Who does Islam Makhachev fight next?

Lightweight GOAT Khabib Nurmagomedov unexpectedly retired in the Octagon at UFC 254 in October, following a dominant win over number one contender Justin Gaethje, citing a promise he made to his mother. “The Eagle” stayed in the USADA testing pool, leaving his options open, and expressed interest in a superfight vs. welterweight GOAT Georges St-Pierre. However, last week he was declared fully retired; a fight at UFC 262 between Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title is set.

Friend of the Nurmagomedov family and MMA fight commentator Ramazan Rabadanov, said Khabib had simply been holding out until Islam Makhachev got as close as possible to the title. Now Makhachev is plotting his rise.

After extending his win streak to seven with a submission of Drew Dober at UFC 259 on March 6, Makhachev called out Tony Ferguson, but “El Cucuy” was matched with Beneil Dariush. Then Makhachev called out Rafael Dos Anjos, who he had previously been scheduled to fight. RDA said he’d take the fight, after he got a rematch vs. Nurmagomedov. Makhachev talked about it during after a recent Eagle Fighting Championship event.

I don’t know why his opinion changed so quickly, said Makhachev. He won a fight and started acting differently. He was quiet when we had a fight scheduled. He got taken off the card and I asked for a replacement but the UFC said they’d give me a five-round main event then I quietly got on a plane to the U.S. without my team because I wanted that fight then I got sick and he had a fight and after that he started talking differently.

With #3 Oliveira fighting #4 Chandler, #5 Ferguson fighting #9 Dariush, #1 Dustin Poirier fighting #6 Conor McGregor, there’s not a lot of options for #11 Makhachev to move up, but he thinks #7 Dos Anjos is it.

I don’t know what’s going on with the UFC matchmaking but I think that’s what will end up happening, said Makhachev. Most of the top-10 fighters are busy but I’m 90 percent sure they’ll give me a top-10 guy…

We know that Felder doesn’t want to fight often. He has other things going on with the UFC and isn’t eager to fight anymore. As far as Hooker, I saw that he recently came home. He was quarantined for a long time so I don’t think he’ll want to come back soon. He’ll probably want to rest after getting knocked out, so I think they’ll give me dos Anjos.

Another possibility is #2 ranked Justin Gaethje, who does not have a fight scheduled.

Yes, it’s possible. Justin and I know each other but it’s not like we’re friends, said Makhachev. It’s possible. He’s free right now. Why not? I’d love to fight him.

UG, who do you think Makhachev fights next?