Islam Makhachev underlined his lightweight title credentials in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night, with a brilliant first-round submission victory against Dan Hooker at UFC 267.
The Dagestan native, a huge fan favourite in the capital, extended his win streak to nine to move to 21-1 in professional mixed martial arts, dispatching Hooker via a nasty Kimura 2:25 minutes in at Etihad Arena. Hooker’s arm looked dangerously close to breaking.
Speaking inside the octagon immediately afterwards, Makhachev said: “Nine-fight win streak. I am ready for title shot. This division is a little bit sleep. I’ll take the belt and keep it for
With the triumph, and the conclusive manner of it, calls will increase once more for Makhachev to next fight for the lightweight crown. The current champion, Charles Oliveira, defends the belt against No 1-ranked challenger Dustin Poirier at UFC 269 in Las Vegas in December.
On Saturday, with former champion and now coach Khabib Nurmagomedov in his corner, Makhachev made the statement he said pre-event that he would.
'I’m coming to take this belt,” he said. “And keep this belt many years.”
All the action from UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi
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Fans outside the arena during UFC 267 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on October 30, 2021. All Images Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Petr Yan won the UFC interim bantamweight title fight against Cory Sandhagen at UFC 267in Abu Dhabi. -
Cory Sandhagen (blue) takes a kick from Petr Yan (red) at UFC 267. -
UFC interim bantamweight title match between Cory Sandhagen (blue) and Petr Yan (red) at the Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. -
Glover Teixeira stunned Jan Błachowicz in their light heavyweight title match at UFC 267. -
Glover Teixeira submitted Jan Błachowicz for the UFC light heavyweight title. -
Light heavyweight title fight between Glover Teixeira (blue) and Jan Błachowicz (red). -
Glover Teixeira submitted Jan Błachowicz at UFC 267. -
Glover Teixeira (blue) overpowered Jan Błachowicz (red) at UFC 267. -
Emirati performers during UFC 267 at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. -
Allan Nascimento lost to Tagir Ulanbekov (red) in the opening bout at UFC 267. -
Tagir Ulanbekov (red) after his flyweight win over Allan Nascimento. -
Khabib Nurmagomedov watches the flyweight bout between Allan Nascimento and Tagir Ulanbekov at the Etihad Arena. -
UFC flyweight bout between Allan Nascimento (blue) and Tagir Ulanbekov (red) at UFC 267. Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi -
Etihad crew members outside the Etihad Arena. -
Emirati performers during UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi. -
Lerone Murphy (blue) is tackled by Makwan Amirkhani (red) in their featherweight bout. -
Light heavyweight bout between Michał Oleksiejczuk (blue) and Shamil Gamzatov (red). -
Andre Petroski (blue) takes hold of Hu Yaozong (red) in their middleweight bout. -
Zubaira Tukhugov won his featherweight bout against Ricardo Ramos. -
Women's strawweight bout between Virna Jandiroba (blue) and Amanda Ribas. -
Zubaira Tukhugov after defeating Ricardo Ramos at the Etihad Arena. -
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos after winning his welterweight fight in Abu Dhabi. -
Michał Oleksiejczuk won the light heavyweight bout with Shamil Gamzatov. -
Roman Kopylov defends against and Albert Duraev (red). -
Khamzat Chimaev won in the first round against Li Jingliang. -
Khamzat Chimaev submitted Li Jingliang at the Etihad Arena. -
Khamzat Chimaev dominated on his UFC return. -
Coach Khabib Nurmagomedov celebrates Islam Makhachev's win over Dan Hooker. -
Khabib Nurmagomedov celebrates Islam Makhachev's lightweight bout win over Dan Hooker. -
Heavyweight bout between Marcin Tybura (blue) and Alexander Volkov. -
Dan Hooker (blue) and Islam Makhachev (red) at UFC 267. -
Islam Makhachev (red) dominated Dan Hooker at UFC 267.
