New UFC Champion Islam Makhachev Stands by Conor McGregor Promise After Khabib Makes Alexander Volkanovski Callout at UFC 280

Islam Makhachev, the winner of UFC 280 and the current lightweight champion, has stuck to his vow. Prior to the fights, Makhachev vowed that he would not call out Conor McGregor if he won the fight. No doubt, after his victory, he called out another champion.

Instead of McGregor, Makhachev called out ‘The Great’ Volkanovski with a face-off in the cage.

Islam Makhachev vowed not to call Conor McGregor

Before the UFC 280 main event, Islam Makhachev decided he would not call out McGregor, in case he won the title. He reasoned that there were more deserving fighters. “He come back and just tweeted you know, that’s it,” said Makhachev on the ‘Full Send Podcast’. “He’s always in the Twitter because people almost forget him, you know. And he try to put something and he put today something, people gonna talk about him,” he said.

Furthermore, Makhachev believed that ‘The Notorious’ wouldn’t be coming back anytime soon. He even claimed that McGregor didn’t deserve a fight with him. “But I don’t believe he’s going to come back. Every fighter tries to call him out after they win. I’m not going call him after the fight because I want to fight with real fighters who deserve the title shot. Gamrot, Beneil, other guys,” said Makhachev. 

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Makhachev’s reasoning for not calling out McGregor also included the fact that he was 1-3 in the lightweight division and the only win was in 2016 against Eddie Alvarez. He promised not to call McGregor but instead give the chance to a more deserving fighter. He had Beneil Dariush, the winner of the UFC 280 undercard against Mateusz Gamrot. 

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s best student faced off against Alexander Volkanovski

Khabib Nurmagomedov, the undefeated guru at Makhachev’s corner, told Daniel Cormier in the post-fight interview that his protégé should go against Alexander Volkanovski. “You know what’s interesting?,” he said, “Charles Oliveira is number 2 pound-for-pound, he finished Charles. Now it’s our plan to fly all the way to Australia and fight in the pound-for-pound king’s backyard, you know. We are going to finish this guy…”

Volkanovski who was present at the event entered the octagon and replied to Makhachev’s callout.

“Let’s do it,” Volkavoski said in the cage. He accepted the challenge, “The lightweight championship on the line, the pound-for-pound No. 1 on the line. Let’s do it!” He congratulated Makhachev with a good handshake and left everyone excited about the fights in Perth. 

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Are you excited for the battle between Nurmagomedov’s prodigy and ‘The Great’? Let us know in the comments below.