Islam Makhachev has targeted a bout with mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov’s long-time rival Tony Ferguson, after the fast-rising lightweight contender continued to serve notice to the division with another impressive win on Sunday.
With Nurmagomedov once more in his corner, Makhachev defeated Brazil’s Thiago Moises via a fourth-round submission in the headline clash at UFC on ESPN 56 at the Apex in Las Vegas.
The victory extended the dangerous Dagestani’s win streak to eight, while at the same time lifting his professional mixed martial arts record to 20-1 (9-1 UFC).
Makhachev’s latest success moves him ever closer to a shot at the title, with the 29-year-old calling out fellow lightweights Michael Chandler and Rafael Dos Anjos immediately after his win.
However, Makhachev said he would prefer a clash with Nurmagomedov’s old foe Ferguson.
“If they were to give me a choice, let’s do it with Tony because we have good history with him,” he told reporters at the post-fight press conference. “Khabib was supposed to fight with him like five, six times. Let’s finish this. I’m going to finish this.
“I’m going to show Tony’s not Khabib level. People don’t understand how Khabib pressures. I can’t explain to you guys, but I think you know everything.”
Ferguson, a former lightweight interim champion, was scheduled to face Nurmagomedov many times in the past, but the bout always fell apart because of injuries or other unforeseen circumstances. Nurmagomedov, 32, retired undefeated as the lightweight champion in October following his successful title defence against Justin Gaejthe in Abu Dhabi. His record stood at 29-0.
The former belt-holder has since switched his focus to coaching, and this year has overseen four victories for his teammates. He was also in Makhachev’s corner for his submission win against Drew Dober in March.
Given their close relationship, many view Makhachev as the heir to Nurmagomedov’s lightweight throne.
“If somebody says I’m almost the same as Khabib, I agree with this,” Makhachev said. “I want to be like Khabib. He’s a great man, he’s a champion, he has a lot of money and he has everything, but he’s still a humble guy.
“He’s coming to the US without his family. He stays here one, two months to help us. He doesn’t take money, nothing. He just comes and does the whole thing. We came to US and he rented a big house for the team and a lot of cars and nobody pays. He pays for everything. I cannot explain Khabib. He does a lot of stuff, but not everyone knows this.”
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 (Turf) 1,400m. Winner: Al Ajeeb W’Rsan, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Jaci Wickham (trainer).
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 (T) 1,400m racing. Winner: Mujeeb, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel.
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 90,000 (T) 2,200m. Winner: Onward, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
6.30pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown Prep Rated Conditions (PA) Dh 125,000 (T) 2,200m. Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle.
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (T) 1,600m. Winner: AF Arrab, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 90,000 (T) 1,400m. Winner: Irish Freedom, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
Read more about the coronavirus
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Other must-tries
Tomato and walnut salad
A lesson in simple, seasonal eating. Wedges of tomato, chunks of cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, coriander or parsley leaves, and perhaps some fresh dill are drizzled with a crushed walnut and garlic dressing. Do consider yourself warned: if you eat this salad in Georgia during the summer months, the tomatoes will be so ripe and flavourful that every tomato you eat from that day forth will taste lacklustre in comparison.
Badrijani nigvzit
A delicious vegetarian snack or starter. It consists of thinly sliced, fried then cooled aubergine smothered with a thick and creamy walnut sauce and folded or rolled. Take note, even though it seems like you should be able to pick these morsels up with your hands, they’re not as durable as they look. A knife and fork is the way to go.
Pkhali
This healthy little dish (a nice antidote to the khachapuri) is usually made with steamed then chopped cabbage, spinach, beetroot or green beans, combined with walnuts, garlic and herbs to make a vegetable pâté or paste. The mix is then often formed into rounds, chilled in the fridge and topped with pomegranate seeds before being served.
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Match info:
Manchester City 2
Sterling (8'), Walker (52')
Newcastle United 1
Yedlin (30')
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Profile Idealz
Company: Idealz
Founded: January 2018
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Size: (employees): 22
Investors: Co-founders and Venture Partners (9 per cent)
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SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
SERIE A FIXTURES
Friday Sassuolo v Benevento (Kick-off 11.45pm)
Saturday Crotone v Spezia (6pm), Torino v Udinese (9pm), Lazio v Verona (11.45pm)
Sunday Cagliari v Inter Milan (3.30pm), Atalanta v Fiorentina (6pm), Napoli v Sampdoria (6pm), Bologna v Roma (6pm), Genoa v Juventus (9pm), AC Milan v Parma (11.45pm)