Islam Makhachev knows there will always be naysayers, but he believes he has done enough to be in serious consideration for the next lightweight title shot.
The Dagestani earned his ninth consecutive triumph at UFC 267, as he rolled past Dan Hooker for a submission victory at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night. Makhachev used a kimura to force a tapout from “The Hangman” at the 2:25 mark of the opening stanza. It was Hooker’s first submission defeat since 2012.
“I feel good because I show my level – I don’t know how many minutes (it took),” Makhachev said at the UFC 267 post-fight press conference.