Paris has been in the global spotlight since last week, hosting the 33rd Olympic Games, a multi-sport event. However, the Paris Olympics gained notoriety due to its controversial opening ceremony, which included a parody of the “Last Supper”, a renowned painting by Leonardo da Vinci depicting Jesus Christ’s final meal before his crucifixion. This deeply offended Christians and other religious people worldwide, including UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.

Immediately after the opening ceremony, Islam Makhachev took to X, calling it a “shame” and a “dark stain” on the Olympic history since its inception. This strong sentiment was highlighted in a recent interview with Ushatayka, a podcast where Makhachev is a frequent guest. When asked about his harsh criticism of the Paris Olympics, Makhachev replied, “Well, to be honest, I watched fragments of the opening of the Olympics. It was disgusting.”

Makhachev further emphasized the impact on religions, stating, “This is disrespectful to all religions in general and to all human values. To be honest, I even planned to go to the Olympics. After that, I don’t even want to go there.” The host then inquired about Makhachev’s X post advocating for the return of the Olympics to Russia. Makhachev responded, “Well, first of all, Russia understands how to uphold human values. It respects athletes and the sport. I don’t think it has anything to do with the sport.”

Makhachev’s stance might be understandable considering the exorbitant cost of the 2014 Sochi Olympics, estimated at $55 billion. This might have influenced Makhachev’s belief in Russia’s capability to host the Olympics effectively. However, while Makhachev was busy criticizing the 2014 Olympics, a UFC veteran expressed doubts about his potential to become a two-division champion.

UFC veteran weighs in on Islam Makhachev’s potential move

Since his debut, Islam Makhachev has dominated and defeated every opponent (except one) he faced, culminating in his UFC lightweight championship title. He recently defended this title against former interim champion Dustin Poirier at UFC 302. With no apparent challenging opponent remaining in the lightweight division, Makhachev has expressed interest in moving up to the welterweight division. Rafael dos Anjos, returning from a hiatus, has since shared his thoughts on this potential move.

Dos Anjos, a veteran of both the lightweight and welterweight divisions, expressed doubt about Islam Makhachev’s ability to defeat former welterweight champion Leon Edwards. In an interview with Submission Radio, he stated, “He’s in a very good momentum right now, but I don’t think he can beat Leon Edwards and become a double champion. I just think like, the size difference. Leon is a much bigger guy, and we see smaller guys like (Dustin) Poirier giving Islam a lot of trouble.”