‘Nobody In the Lightweight Division Is Better Than Me… Except Khabib’

With an undefeated record of twelve wins and a successful octagon debut at UFC 187 this past Saturday, Islam Makhachev has no reason to believe that he is one of the best in the company today.

Of course, he needs to be tested with ranked opponents, but the confidence doesn’t hurt. Makhachev has been training with the top lightweight in the company in Khabib Nurmagomedov and believes that his iron has been sharpened and he can take anybody the UFC puts in front of him next.

“[Khabib] is the best lightweight in the world and after training with him every day I know that there’s no other lightweight out there who can beat me,” Makhachev said during a post fight media scrum at UFC 187.

Makhachev stayed relaxed last Saturday when he waited for an opportunity to present itself when he fought Leo Kuntz. Kuntz was able to escape the first round, but was eventually submitted in the second. Makhachev displayed patience and he stayed relaxed, just like Nurmagomedov told him to.

“He supported me the whole time and he explained to me that it is going to be the same experience that you had before. All eleven fights, all the opponents were the same. It is nothing special. He told me not to worry, stay relaxed and do my job.”

Makhachev obviously has a lot to prove, but did he impress you in his octagon debut at UFC 187?

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