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UFC legend Michael Bisping has Islam Makhachev just one win away from being in the GOAT (greatest of all time) conversation.
Makhachev, a former UFC lightweight champion, will become the latest to fight for a second belt. He takes on the UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 on Nov. 15.
Makhachev is on a stellar run and only has one loss to his name. The Russian has defended the lightweight title four times so far, and is on a 15-fight win streak.
Bisping was on The Bohnfire with Mike Bohn and first discussed the wins Makhachev has had during this run. ‘The Count’ went on to say that beating Della Maddalena would certainly put Makhachev in the MMA GOAT conversation:
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“If [Makhachev] gets the job done, I think without question, he deserves to be in that conversation.”
Bohn added that Makhachev defending his belt against the likes of Shavkat Rakhmonov and Sean Brady would further cement him as one of the greatest ever, to which Bisping replied:
“Without a shadow of a doubt. If he can beat Jack, and I know it is a big if… and go on a run and defend it two or three times, it’s insane.”
Check out Michael Bisping and Mike Bohn discussing Islam Makhachev’s GOAT status below (37:00):
Islam Makhachev content at aiming for two-division gold
While Islam Makhachev gears up a potential second belt in his MMA career, the Russian isn’t keen on moving up another division and challenging for a third crown.
That would be a historic move since no one in the UFC has ever won a belt in three divisions. Some have spoken about trying to achieve it, like Khamzat Chimaev, but Makhachev provided an ‘eating’ reason for not moving up.
The Russian was speaking to Match TV and claimed he can’t eat anymore to move up:
“I dream of becoming and remaining a double champion, of going down in history as someone who has won two belts. [A third belt]? I can't eat that much anymore.”
Even though Makhachev is moving up a division for the belt, he goes into his fight against Jack Della Maddalena as the slight favorite.
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