UFC’s debut on Paramount is scheduled for January 24. Although the interim lightweight title fight between Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje is scheduled, it does not appear to be UFC’s first choice.
Islam Makhachev spoke Ushatayka and revealed that an offer was on the table, but he declined (h/t MMA Junkie).
“I was offered a fight in January,” Makhachev said. “I think January is an impossible date because I was already in camp for three months and they called me in December. They said, ‘You’re going to fight in January.’ I said it was already too late. I had to leave for camp and be ready for January. I told them I definitely won’t fight in January.”
While Makhachev couldn’t give a definitive answer as to who his opponent would have been, he did reveal a possible name.
“They didn’t tell me the name, but to be honest I think so [Michael] Morales,” Makhachev said. ‘That’s my opinion. They didn’t say the name, they just asked if I would fight in January or not.”
Morales put the welterweight division on notice after scoring a first-round TKO finish over top ranked contender Sean Brady. The fight took place on the same card that Makhachev further wrote his name in history.
Makhachev added his name to the list of fighters looking to win two-division titles at UFC 322 in November. He put in a great performance against Jack Della Maddalena to become the new UFC Welterweight Champion.
There has been a lot of talk about what’s next for Makhachev. While the champion is in favor of a title defense against former champion Kamaru Usman, rising contenders Morales and Ian Machado Garry are favored within the MMA community. Shavkat Rakhmonov was the most ideal contender, but missed all of 2025 due to injuries.
#Islam #Makhachev #explains #turned #UFC #title #defense #BJPenn.com