Islam Makhachev, being trained by Khabib Nurmagomedov, is ready for perhaps his biggest moment.
The Dagestani fighter says he is looking forward to the challenge Dan Hooker will provide at UFC 267 – and is ready to fight for the lightweight title, should his hand be raised in Abu Dhabi.
The 30-year-old was initially worried that his fight would be cancelled, after Rafael dos Anjos withdrew from competition, but New Zealand’s Hooker stepped in and, in doing so will provide Makhachev’s highest ranked opponent to date.
“I am happy because they found me a tough opponent – I thought when Rafael was injured the fight would be cancelled or postponed but I am happy Hooker took this fight,” says Makhachev.
“He is tough, he is good, with high-level striking. He doesn’t have a good win streak, but has beaten a lot of tough opponents, that is why this is a good fight for me,” he continues.
“After this fight I will be looking for someone in the top-three, but if they give me a title fight, I will be ready. I know I have to finish Dan Hooker, I have finished my last two opponents, but I have to show people and the UFC my level because very soon I have to fight for the title.”
Makhachev, with former undefeated UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov as a training partner, believes that Khabib’s experience will put him over the top.
“I want to be like Khabib. I am training with him all the time and he gives me very big support. This is not pressure for me, I am just happy to have a guy like him who has my back.
“Khabib has a lot of experience, him and Javier Mendez help me a lot with the gameplan and training camp. He is not just like another sparring partner his experience can give a lot more.”
Having already fought in Abu Dhabi at UFC 242, Makhachev has strong experience in the UAE, and has also spent time training in Dubai and preparing for this fight – and he knows there will be a lot of local support for him on Saturday night.
“We come to Dubai we have everything we need for training. They offer good hospitality and acclimatization – in Russia it is becoming winter time but here it is still hot so I have to come early and be professional,” he says.
“The whole arena is going to be full of my people – that’s why I have to show them a good performance. I am not an amateur fighter so don’t see this as pressure, it is just support.”