Javier Mendez, the coach of Islam Makhachev, believes that a matchup with Kamaru Usman may come in the future.
As is well known, Kamaru Usman defeated Joaquin Buckley handily last weekend to resume his winning ways. Even though he faced some difficulties in the fifth round, he managed to keep going and showed that mixed martial arts is still very much his game.
Usman also stated after the fight that he would like to challenge for the UFC welterweight title. It appears that lightweight champion Islam Makhachev will be moving up to 170 pounds, perhaps earning an instant championship chance in the process, even though Jack Della Maddalena is now the division’s king.
Usman has previously stated his desire in facing Makhachev. Javier Mendez, Islam’s coach, has now implied that they would welcome the challenge as well.
Mendez’s opinions on Usman vs. Makhachev
“Possible,” Mendez told Submission Radio. “It depends what the UFC thinks. I think Shavkat needs to be considered. Also Ian Garry, Belal Muhammad, too, if he wants to be back in the picture. Who knows? This division, the welterweight division, has become the hotbed for the UFC at the present time, in my opinion. There’s so many marquee fights they can make from there. Let’s see what they want to do.”
“[Usman’s] right in line with JDM, 100 percent,” Mendez added. “I think all those guys are really trouble for everybody. Shavkat, Ian Garry, there’s so many guys in that division that Islam hasn’t fought either. So it’s one of those exciting things to be in, but we need to get by JDM first. He’s not going to be an easy fight as it is.”
Quotes via MMA Fighting
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