LAS VEGAS – The more fight time, the better for Islam Makhachev.
The rising UFC lightweight contender is excited to headline his first UFC card on Saturday at UFC on ESPN 26 against Thiago Moises. The event is set to go down at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
And with a headlining bout comes not only more exposure, but also more fight time. And Makhachev (19-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) is excited to finally get a taste of what a championship fight could be like given that he’s set to fight five rounds, rather than the typical three.
“I’m excited because this is my first main event,” Makhachev told MMA Junkie. “Five rounds, this is good before they give me a title fight because I have to fight sometimes five rounds. I have to feel five rounds and I have to change my schedule for five rounds.”
Of course, the fight could end much earlier than the scheduled 25 minutes for UFC on ESPN 26 main event. Makhachev hopes to get the finish as soon as he can, but has no problem going the distance, as he feels more than ready.
“It doesn’t matter because I’m always training hard, doesn’t matter how many rounds,” Makhachev explained. “That’s why when they called me with the main event and asked if i wanted to fight five rounds, I said of course. I’m always training hard that’s why it doesn’t matter five rounds.”
Makhachev is on an impressive run, as he’s stringed together seven consecutive wins. The Dagestan native hopes to get a crack at highly ranked opposition, if victorious against Moises on Saturday.
“I think it’s going to be some guy from top 5, I don’t know,” Makhachev said. “I can think of a couple of guys, maybe RDA (Rafael Dos Anjos) or Tony (Ferguson). I was supposed to fight RDA in Abu Dhabi. He got corona and they cancelled the fight and then I came to Vegas and I had an infection. We were supposed to fight, but maybe it’s next, I don’t know.”
