Getty Islam Makhachev
Reigning UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is unfazed by Dana White’s recent memory lapse when he forgot the Russian-born fighter’s name.
When speaking with the media last weekend, the UFC president gave his take on the “monster fight” headlining UFC 284 on February 11: Makhachev versus featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski. White said the pay-per-view, which is set to take place in Perth, Australia, was already trending to break the record for most buys ever in Australia and New Zealand. The two men occupy the top of the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings, with Volkanovski in the top spot and Makhachev right behind him.
Well, when White was pointing to that, he couldn’t remember the 155-pound champ’s name.
“When you have the No. 1 versus the No. 2 pound-for-pound guys in the world fighting each other… in their prime, it’s never happened,” White said. “If you think of all the fights we’ve done in the UFC. So, when you talk about legacy, if Volkanovski can pull this off it’s obviously massive. And if, uh, if um – you know, yeah, can pull it off, he’s on his way to building an incredible legacy.”
MMA Junkie asked Makhachev about White forgetting his name. And Makhachev couldn’t be less bothered by it.
“For U.S people, this is not easy,” Makhachev said. “My surname he forget. Makhachev (is) not easy for the U.S. Like Nurmagomedov. I don’t hear anybody say right. Everybody does some mistake. I don’t care. … For sure he respects all champions. I don’t think bad about people.”
Makhachev & White Have Back-&-Forth Over UFC 284 Promotion
For hardcore MMA fans, the UFC 284 main event sells itself. It features two of the best fighters on the planet in their primes vying for the coveted 155-pound title — the championship in what is regarded by many as the deepest division in the sport.
Well, Makhachev hasn’t been impressed with the event’s promotion. He expressed that in a recent interview with RSport Russia.
“I see that it is not such big promotion,” Mahachev said (transcription via MMA Junkie). “Dana White himself has some problems; he does not pay much attention to this fight. …In terms of pay-per-view, yes, more could have been done. I only saw Volkanovski once, in Sydney. A tour could be organized around the world, a convergence could be held in America.”
White was asked about Makhachev’s comments while appearing on “The Jim Rome Show” this week, and he refuted the champion’s claim.
“Yeah, that’s not true,” White said. “I’ve talked to Islam. First of all, who interviewed him? Who translated for him? I mean, the guy speaks Russian — taken out of context like most of the things in the media.
“First of all, he lives in Dagestan. What does he know about what’s going on for the promotion of the fight? He doesn’t know anything. It’s going to be one of the top-five biggest fights of all-time. First of all, the event sold out. Right? You couldn’t get a ticket if you wanted to get a ticket in Perth. And this thing is trending right now to be the biggest pay-per-view event in Australia, which, it’s like six percent behind the Conor McGregor [versus Dustin] Poirier 3 fight. It’s probably going to break the record. So, to say that the fight hasn’t been [promoted], that’s just ridiculous. That’s what you call some internet BS.”
Makhachev Responded to White’s ‘Internet BS’ Comments
In the same interview with MMA Junkie, Makhachev confirmed he spoke with White over the matter. Makhachev also stated that he would’ve been more than willing to do more press conferences and overall promotion for UFC 284.
“All media, when they come they give me the same question, ‘What do you think about promotion?’ For me, I tell them, ‘Hey, I’m ready to travel around the world and promote this fight,’” Makhachev said. “But the UFC don’t want. Two days ago I talked with Dana on Instagram and (he said) we have some plan, but I wait for his answer.”