While Islam Makhachev did not get a chance to face Beneil Dariush at this past weekend’s UFC Fight Night 202, the Russian contender did slide past his planned foe in the UFC’s official lightweight rankings.
In the latest official UFC rankings, Makhachev (22-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC), who earned a first-round TKO win over late replacement Bobby Green this past Saturday night, moves up one position to No. 3, while Dariush slides down one spot to land at No. 4.
While Makhachev believes his next fight should be for the UFC lightweight title, UFC president Dana White isn’t ready to guarantee anything just yet.
“He’s in the discussion,” White told The Underground. “I still want to see Dariush, you know? It’s unbelievable he breaks his leg the week of the f*cking fight, but what are you going to do, you know? That’s the sport. But listen, (Makhachev) is in the discussion. I’d still like to see that fight.”
Makhachev wasn’t the only lightweight to use a UFC Fight Night 202 victory to move up in the rankings. Arman Tsarukyan (18-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC), who earned a bloody TKO victory over talented prospect Joel Alvarez at the event, also moved up one position, sliding past Poland’s Mateusz Gamrot, and now sits at No. 12.
The latest lightweight rankings are listed below. Check out the full updated rankings at UFC.com.
UFC lightweight champion: Charles Oliveira
- Justin Gaethje
- Dustin Poirier
- Islam Makhachev
- Beneil Dariush
- Michael Chandler
- Rafael dos Anjos
- Tony Ferguson
- Dan Hooker
- Conor McGregor
- Gregor Gillespie
- Rafael Fiziev
- Arman Tsarukyan
- Mateusz Gamrot
- Brad Riddell
- Diego Ferreira
