Makhachev Backed To Become The Biggest UFC Star

The UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev has been backed to become the leading name in the sport. 

Makhachev is coming off a successful defense against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 as he submitted The Diamond in the fifth round to retain his lightweight title. The victory meant that Makhachev has not lost in the UFC since coming up short against Adriano Martins at UFC 192 in 2015. Islam is expected to defend his belt against Arman Tsarukyan. But after the Poirier win, Makhachev revealed that he suffered an injury that required him to go through a recovery period. He is expected to return to the Octagon by the end of the year or early next year. 

Makhachev’s personality has grown with the wider UFC audience, as he is known for dissing his opponents. Two former MMA fighters, Chael Sonnen and Daniel Cormier, have backed him to transcend the sport. Sonnen felt that Makhachev had a bit more to do with his personality before he could cross over into another superstar like Conor McGregor.

Sonnen Reacts

McGregor’s trash-talking was backed up by his skills in the Octagon as he became a two-weight UFC champion. That eventually enabled him to secure a crossover fight with Floyd Mayweather, earning him $100 million. While he was stopped in the 10th round, it broadened his crossover appeal. Since then, McGregor has developed his Forge Irish Stout brand and become a part owner of BKFC. Sonnen felt that Makhachev had a few more things to sort out before he could follow in the same vein. 

“Okay, that guy is so charismatic, and he is so secretly funny. If he was to do a heel turn, I mean, come on, he said one of the great heel lines ever. He said a whole bunch of professors should be taking their black belts back from guys. Like that angle and that is blasphemy in this sport and nobody even knows got it. It was like this G-rated line, he didn’t use profanity, he didn’t yell. When he said it, he said it nicely,” Sonnen said 

Cormier Reacts

But when it came to Cormier, he felt that Makhachev could follow the Floyd Mayweather route. Mayweather developed a reputation for selling his PPVs because people tuned in to watch him lose. That enabled him to set massive PPV records, making him a billionaire since retiring from the sport. Mayweather also crossed over into the mainstream, appearing at WWE and on TV shows such as Dancing with the Stars. Cormier felt that was the best route for Makhachev.

“I think that’s the move for Islam. He needs to get you and I to write him promos. We should write him promos. We write promos telling how much better he is than everyone. I would make him tell everybody that they don’t deserve to be in there with him and he’s just going to lord over this division until he decides to retire,” Cormier stated 

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