<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="9726935" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="beneil-dariush">Beneil Dariush</keyword> finished his "<keyword id="992778" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="UFC">UFC</keyword> Vegas 6" opponent Scott Holtzman with a spinning back-fist Saturday.</li><li>The extraordinary move was inspired by his friend's young son, Billy, who messaged him on Instagram to say that he'd been doing it on a video game and that it worked really well.</li><li>Dariush decided to use it in his 158-pound catchweight match, and it proved to be a winning strategy.</li><li>Watch the first-round knockout below.</li></ul>A 31-year-old UFC fighter looked like a video game come to life when he scored a brutal spinning back-fist KO, and it was a move he was told to use by his friend's son.Beneil Dariush won in style in his "UFC Vegas 6" 158-pound catchweight match against Scott Holtzman behind-closed-doors at the UFC Apex on Saturday.Dariush, an American-Iranian specialist in Muay Thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, was told before the fight by a young boy on Instagram to hit Holtzman with spinning back-fists.The lightweight was unsure about taking advice from someone with no experience of fighting, let alone the UFC, mainly because his friend's son said he'd been trying the strikes out on a computer game.But, regardless, Dariush did so anyway. And it is a strategy which proved to be a winning one.Watch the move right here:<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—ESPN (@espn) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1292276939533815808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2020</a></blockquote>Or here if you're in a different region:<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1292271935745925120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2020</a></blockquote>Explaining the back-fist knockout, Dariush said: "My friend's son, Billy, sent me a message on Instagram and he was like: 'Hey, you should try to knock him out with a spinning back fist. I've been playing the video game and in the game, you do it really well.'"And I was like 'I'll think about it, buddy.' He goes: 'Try it two times. If it doesn't work, it's ok.'"And here we are, so, Bill, I love you buddy. I do it a lot in training, I used to do the spinning back kick a lot, but then again, I was wild."As you get older, you try to clean things up. If you watch the beginning of the fight, I'm trying to be sharp with my boxing, hands up, don't drop your hands, slip, counter … don't get wild."With Saturday's win, Dariush advanced his record to 19 wins (five knockouts, eight submissions, and six decisions) against four losses.But though he's now had 24 matches, many of those in the UFC, he remains scared of fighting."Another thing is they always say is supposed to get easier with each fight," Dariush said. "It's not getting easier for me. I'm literally terrified before the fight."On my way, the song I listen to is a worship song because it allows me to just forget everything and walk in that octagon and walk with God."Just forget about the fight, because when I fight, it just happens. I don't even think about fighting. I can fight at any minute. It's like nature, like a second language, you just do it."Read more:<a href="https://www.insider.com/watch-kevin-holland-hit-opponent-so-hard-the-mouthpiece-flies-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">One of the UFC's most entertaining fighters hit his opponent so hard he sent his mouthpiece flying</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/watch-andrew-sanchez-knocks-opponent-unconscious-with-big-right-hand-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A fighter nicknamed 'El Dirte' hit his opponent with 2 hammer fists on the floor after knocking him unconscious with a huge right hand</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/haqparast-threw-219-strikes-winning-bloody-battle-at-ufc-fight-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nasrat Haqparast threw 219 strikes, won a bloody battle, and said the secret to success was not wanting to kill his UFC opponent</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/conor-mcgregor-nurmagomedov-will-s-his-pants-in-gaethje-fight-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conor McGregor said Khabib Nurmagomedov will be 's----ing his pants' when he fights Justin Gaethje in October</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/mike-tyson-roy-jones-jr-circus-act-why-people-watch-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Tyson's comeback against Roy Jones Jr. is a ridiculous circus act — but that's exactly why people will tune in</a>

A 31-year-old UFC fighter looked like a video game come to life when he scored a brutal, spinning back-fist KO

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11946150" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="khabib-nurmagomedov" source="Orion">Khabib Nurmagomedov</keyword> believes his fighter <keyword id="12345283" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="islam-makhachev" source="Orion">Islam Makhachev</keyword> deserves a title shot in the <keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword>.</li><li>Lightweight star Makhachev just dominated Bobby Green in the first round.</li></ul>LAS VEGAS — <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/khabib-nurmagomedov" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khabib Nurmagomedov</a> is campaigning for his protege <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/islam-makhachev" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Islam Makhachev</a> to secure a <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> lightweight championship shot after his ruthless run in the division.Makhachev finished American fighter Bobby Green in the first round of their catchweight main event at the UFC Fight Night show that took place Saturday inside the Apex, Las Vegas.Makhachev was originally scheduled to fight Beneil Dariush in a title eliminator, however, Green stepped-in on 14 days' notice when Dariush had to withdraw because of injury.Makhachev beat Green midway through the opening round after dominating him during a grappling exchange which led to significant ground-and-pound that promoted a referee's intervention."There's levels, always," <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLRLZqTUA8Y" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said Nurmagomedov to ESPN</a> following the victory last weekend. "There's fighters, champion, elite. I think Bobby Green is a fighter. But Islam is elite."This is what I feel when I train with him long time, 20 years we've spent together, how he's successful in amateur career and how he moved to professional."Nurmagomedov pointed to Makhachev's 10-fight win streak that has now included scalps of Arman Tsarukyan, Drew Dober, and Dan Hooker.Now ranked third, Makhachev is withing punching distance of the No.1 spot which Justin Gaethje currently owns. The American striker fights the champion Charles Oliveira in a title shot in the main event at UFC 274 on May 7.Nurmagomedov wants the winner of that fight to defend the belt against Makhachev in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, in October.'I'm really focused on Islam fighting winner of Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje, end of this year," he said. "Make a very big show in Abu Dhabi. This place, Islam going to fight for the title."<h2>Nurmagomedov still gets nervous when coaching fighters in elite events</h2><div type="image" title="Khabib Nurmagomedov is seen in the corner of Islam Makhachev." height="1000" width="2000" msid="89934152" hostid="261"></div>Elsewhere in the interview, Nurmagomedov — who was <a href="https://www.insider.com/most-dominant-athletes-in-the-world-2021-2021-12#khabib-nurmagomedov-35" target="_blank" rel="noopener">named in Insider's "most dominant" list of athletes last year</a> because of his impeccable, post-fight, coaching role so far — still gets nervous before his fighters compete."I was nervous little bit because this is fiht and anything can happen," he said."Bobby Green, so much experience and a good striker. I was a little bit nervous but not like before. I was talking with Coach Jav [Mendez] before the fight, and I said, 'Coach, I'm still nervous but I become better.'"He said, 'It's okay. You need a couple more years and you'll become better.' This is all about experience."Nurmagomedov then reiterated his desire to see Makhachev fight for the title he relinquished upon retiring from combat <keyword id="11893855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports" source="Orion">sports</keyword> in 2020, with a flawless 29-0 record, when <a href="https://www.insider.com/ufc-254-khabib-nurmagomedov-sent-gaethje-to-sleep-cried-retired-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he defeated Gaethje in a signature win on 'Fight Island.'</a>He said: "Islam take this like a real champion. Like he say, 'Doesn't matter who is opponent the goal is going to stay the same. Same goal, different opponent.'"We feel a little bit bad because he don't fight with Beneil Dariush. He have a big injury, come back win one fight and be next in line. Beneil going to be there, Islam there, Islam fight for the title end of this year."And if Beneil win, Islam win title, Islam going to defend his first title defense with Beneil. This is how I see division going to move."

Khabib Nurmagomedov campaigns for his protege Islam Makhachev to secure a UFC title shot after ruthless run

<ul class="summary-list"><li>UFC's latest champion has been photographed with brutal Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov.</li><li>Islam Makhachev recently beat Charles Oliveira and received a hero's welcome in Russia.</li></ul><a href="https://www.insider.com/category/islam-makhachev" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Islam Makhachev</a>, who won the <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> lightweight championship with a dominant win over Charles Oliveira, received a hero's welcome upon his return to Russia, even posing with brutal Chechan dictator <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ramzan-kadyrov" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ramzan Kadyrov</a>."New UFC lightweight champion Russian Islam Makhachev brought the belt to Ramzan Kadyrov," read a caption on the photo, which state-owned RIA Novosti Sport <a href="https://t.me/sportrian/26216" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted on Telegram</a>.The photograph further underscores the influence Kadyrov wields in combat sports, as the politician, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2022/mar/30/ramzan-kadyrov-putins-attack-dog-and-ukraine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">routinely dubbed Vladimir Putin's attack dog</a> by western media, has his own MMA firm called Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA), is frequently spotted alongside the sport's top stars, and has even appeared cageside at prominent UFC events.A wildly controversial figure, Kadyrov was even sanctioned by the US Treasury in 2020, for human rights abuses.<a href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm1208" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The US Treasury said the Kadyrovtsy</a>, which is an organization "under the guidance of Kadyrov," committed "egregious" activities that included the "kidnapping, torturing, and killing members of the LGBTI population in the Chechen Republic."The Kadyrovtsy are accused of illegal abductions, torture, extrajudicial executions, and other abuses, including the detention of journalists and activists," the statement said.The photograph of Kadyrov with Makhachev can be seen below.<h2>Kadyrov has undeniable influence in mixed martial arts</h2>The power Kadyrov has over MMA fighters from his region has been evident throughout the COVID era of sports.<div type="image" title="Ramzan Kadyrov" height="1330" width="2000" msid="95240055" hostid="261" sizebytes="118862"></div><a href="https://www.insider.com/khamzat-chimaev-chechan-warlord-convinced-ufc-star-to-unretire-2021-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">He convinced UFC star Khamzat Chimaev to come out of retirement from the sport</a> in 2021, after the athlete said he was done with the game because he was struggling from coronavirus infection.Just last month <a href="https://www.insider.com/ramzan-kadyrov-video-called-ufc280-stars-after-they-brawled-2022-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kadyrov reportedly settled a rivalry between Russian fighters Chimaev and Abubakar Nurmagomedov</a> by video calling them both and reportedly ordering them to stop quarreling.Makhachev, meanwhile, has risen to the highest echelons of world <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MMA</a>, having learned the sport from the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, Khabib Nurmagomedov's father and trainer.<a href="https://www.ufc.com/rankings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to the UFC's own rankings</a>, Makhachev is the world's No. 3-rated ultimate fighter, behind only Alexander Volkanovski and Israel Adesanya.It is unclear who Makhachev will fight next; however, the winner of this month's bout between Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler, Beneil Dariush, or even Volkanovski would all make worthy challengers.

Islam Makhachev showed his UFC championship belt to brutal Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Sean O'Malley fanned the flames of his rivalry with UFC 280 opponent Petr Yan this week.</li><li>In promotional footage ahead of their bout, O'Malley said he is coming "to kill the little Russian."</li></ul>American fighter <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/sean-omalley" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sean O'Malley</a> said he's a "pink poodle" who's going to "kill the little Russian" Petr Yan at their upcoming <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC 280</a> fight Saturday at the Etihad Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.O'Malley is a <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/contender-series" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contender Series</a> graduate whose wild popularity appears to have yielded a significant bout against the UFC's No. 1 bantamweight, Yan.The Russian fighter called O'Malley a "pink poodle" in a June tweet, saying if he won his fight that weekend then he'd be happy to meet him in the Octagon later in the year."I dare you to call me out, and I will accept it," Yan said.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Petr “No Mercy” Yan (@PetrYanUFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1542706433417826305">July 1, 2022</a></blockquote>An accidental eye poke in O'Malley's UFC 276 fight against Pedro Munhoz rendered the Brazilian unable to continue, resulting in a no-contest.A 135-pound fight against Yan materialized anyway on the main card of one of the UFC's most significant events of the year, and it's a match O'Malley is generating interest in — perhaps because of lines like the ones he said in the first episode of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lgwjiTiOzE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC 280: Embedded Vlog Series</a> on YouTube."I got Petr a present," O'Malley said in the promotional footage while wearing a pink wig. "Pink poodle — coming to kill the little Russian."Tim Welch, O'Malley's head coach, then said that as fight night draws near, they've been "running over the basics, a lot of his tricks to just keep it fresh in his mind."Welch said they've been training specifically for Yan because of how good the opponent is. Regardless, he said they're "super confident … and ready to go."<h2>His coach previously said the last person Yan will want to lose to is the 'pink poodle' O'Malley</h2><div type="image" title="Sean O'Malley with coach Tim Welch." height="1331" width="2000" msid="94969236" hostid="261" sizebytes="172346"></div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-s1rJdJ7Us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Speaking to MMA personality The Schmo</a>, Welch said: "We're gonna see the best Petr Yan there is. He's a fucking terminator. The last person he wants to lose to is the pink poodle."So, he's gonna come ready to go but we'll be ready to go also."Elsewhere on the UFC 280 main card, which is being broadcast on ESPN+, Beneil Dariush and Mateusz Gamrot collide in a lightweight banger, and T.J. Dillashaw challenges Aljamain Sterling for his UFC bantamweight title.In the main event, Islam Makhachev — a protege of Khabib Nurmagomedov's — fights Charles Oliveira in a lightweight five-rounder.

American fighter Sean O'Malley called himself a 'pink poodle,' threatening 'to kill the little Russian' at UFC 280

<ul class="summary-list"><li>UFC and Meta's partnership began with a new project at a Legacy Fighting Alliance show Friday.</li><li>Virtual reality users could watch the show using multiple angles and seating positions.</li></ul>Video footage has emerged from an <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MMA</a> event Saturday that put virtual reality users into the thick of the fighting action.Multiple angles and seating positions could be found for those who watched the Legacy Fighting Alliance 144 show Friday on Meta's Horizon Worlds.Insider reported last week about <a href="https://www.insider.com/ufc-announces-meta-partnership-weeks-after-zuckerberg-attended-event-2022-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC's new partnership with Meta</a>, which came on the heels of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's attendance at an eerily exclusive MMA event earlier this month.In a statement sent to Insider, UFC said its broadcast arm UFC Fight Pass will deliver live MMA events "in VR in Meta's Horizon Worlds — an immersive social experience app available on the Meta Quest 2 headset."The new headset, launched this month, retails at $1,499.99, <a href="https://www.meta.com/quest/quest-pro" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to the Meta website</a>.The project began Friday with the LFA 144 event in South Dakota, which was topped with a bantamweight title bout involving Muin Gafurov and Diego Silva.One clip showed users what it's like walking to the arena:<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1581119960033607680">October 15, 2022</a></blockquote>Japanese fighter Yuma Horiuchi advanced his pro MMA record to nine wins (two knockouts, five submissions, and two decisions) against four losses with his third-round victory against Juan Puerta via rear-naked choke.This is what that finish looked like through VR:<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1581114767866925057">October 15, 2022</a></blockquote>Arguably the best VR highlight to come from the night, though, came when Muin Gafurov finished Diego Silva with a spinning back kick to the body in the third round of their match.If the knockout was not good enough, Gafurov's raucous celebration became something VR users would have experienced at point-blank range when the Tajikstan athlete mounted the fence.Watch it here:<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1581127021085700096">October 15, 2022</a></blockquote>According to a UFC statement sent to Insider, the LFA 144 was not the only MMA event that will get Meta's VR treatment.The UFC's digital broadcast channel Fight Pass "plans to offer similar VR experiences around select combat sports events in the future," the statement said.These shows can also be watched traditionally without VR headsets.The UFC returns Saturday with a pay-per-view offering, UFC 280, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev fight for the UFC lightweight championship in a main event that also sees Aljamain Sterling put his bantamweight belt on the line against T.J. Dillashaw.Petr Yan fights Sean O'Malley earlier in a show that also sees Beneil Dariush fight Mateusz Gamrot.

Video footage emerges from an MMA event that put virtual reality users into the thick of the fighting action

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12345283" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="islam-makhachev" source="Orion">Islam Makhachev</keyword> is open to fighting <keyword id="11928262" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="conor-mcgregor" source="Orion">Conor McGregor</keyword>.</li><li>They have a rivalry because of Makhachev's association with McGregor nemesis Khabib Nurmagomedov.</li></ul>LAS VEGAS — Dominant lightweight grappler Islam Makhachev is open to competing against Conor McGregor if the former <keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword> two-weight champion is serious about fighting him."Let's go, let's do it, why not," <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2x_EPHbo14" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he told ESPN on Monday</a>.Because of Makhachev's association with friend, teammate, and trainer Khabib Nurmagomedov, there is a built-in rivalry with the Irishman.Nurmagomedov dominated McGregor at the UFC 229 event in 2018. The Dagestan wrestler <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/conor-mcgregor-result-who-won-ko-khabib-nurmagomedov-10-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dropped McGregor in the second round before submitting him in the fourth</a> with a tight neck crank.Rather than celebrate the win, Nurmagomedov jumped out of the Octagon and nearly incited a riot when he seemingly charged at McGregor's friend Dillon Danis.The build-up in the months prior was filled with controversy as Nurmagomedov threatened and slapped one of McGregor's friends Artem Lobov.In apparent retaliation, McGregor flew from Europe to the US to confront Nurmagomedov, whom he found on a bus at a parking lot in New York. McGregor grabbed a dolly and threw it through a window, shattering glass, and injuring athletes on board. He was arrested the next day.Long after the fight, Nurmagomedov and McGregor continued to argue on social media.<div type="image" title="Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor rematch" height="1000" width="2000" msid="90088188" hostid="261"></div>With Nurmagomedov's retirement in 2020, Makhachev seems happy to continue the rivalry, yet said McGregor may have difficulty making weight for a fight because, he claims, the fighter drinks too much."It's gonna be hard for him to make 155 because he drunk all days, and lot of people are gonna smash him in this situation," Makhachev said, insinuating a speculated title fight against Charles Oliveira is unlikely as McGregor may be a liability."He just gonna fight Nate Diaz or some old people for make some money, and that's it. He's never gonna be champion. He's never gonna compete this level."Nurmagomedov has been lobbying for Makhachev to get the next title shot, after Justin Gaethje's upcoming attempt at taking the crown at UFC 274.But the <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> boss <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/dana-white" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dana White</a> recently said Makhachev must first fight Beneil Dariush for the No.1 contender spot.Should Makhachev win, like he has in all his pro <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MMA</a> fights to date, then he may well have a choice between gunning for the title, or taking on McGregor.It would be a "long night" for McGregor, if he did fight Makhachev, he said."When he fought Khabib, he was in good shape, not drunk too much, but now he has to retire."This guy has money, everything, but if he wants to come back — let's do it. I will be happy to smash him."

Islam Makhachev said he'd 'smash' Conor McGregor even though he's 'drunk all days'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Rising <keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword> star <keyword id="12345283" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="islam-makhachev" source="Orion">Islam Makhachev</keyword> no longer deems <keyword id="11928262" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="conor-mcgregor" source="Orion">Conor McGregor</keyword> a worthwhile opponent.</li><li>"I just want to fight for the title," he told reporters Wednesday.</li></ul>ABU DHABI - <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> lightweight contender <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/islam-makhachev" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Islam Makhachev</a> is no longer interested in a fight that involves the former two-weight champion <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/conor-mcgregor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conor McGregor</a>.Makhachev, who is mentored by Russia compatriot <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/khabib-nurmagomedov" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khabib Nurmagomedov</a>, is one of the <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MMA</a>'s rising stars. The 30-year-old has a sambo style similar to Nurmagomedov, and he is even trained by Khabib's old coach Javier Mendez.The Dagestan fighter returns to the UFC Octagon at UFC 267 against Dan Hooker, a striker from New Zealand, on the main card of an event at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.Because of his abilities and success at 155-pounds, combined with his links to Nurmagomedov - an old rival of McGregor's - a bout involving him and the Irishman has frequently been mentioned.However, such a contest is now in Makhachev's rearview mirror.At a media day Insider attended Wednesday on Yas Island, Makhachev was asked whether he remains interested in a fight with McGregor."No," was his simple answer.Ranked as the No.5 contender at lightweight, Makhachev can push for a title shot in the near future should he continue his winning ways against Hooker.Only Michael Chandler, Beneil Dariush, Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, and the champion Charles Oliveira currently rank ahead of him.It is unclear what a victory over No.9-ranked McGregor - who has not registered a win in the division since 2016 - would do for Makhachev's ambitions in the weight class."I just want to fight for the title," he said.<h2>McGregor continues his descent into 155-pound irrelevance</h2><div type="image" title="Conor McGregor is stretchered out of the arena." height="1333" width="2000" msid="87310282" hostid="261"></div>Makhachev's statement may be a bitter one for McGregor to hear as the sport, and more specifically the UFC's lightweight division, continues to move on from the Irishman.McGregor has lost four fights in his last seven <keyword id="11922276" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma" source="Orion">MMA</keyword> matches.His only win since claiming the UFC lightweight title with a second-round knockout over Eddie Alvarez five years ago is a 40-second smash-and-grab victory over Donald Cerrone at welterweight in 2020.Makhachev is younger than the 33-year-old McGregor, has taken less damage, and is in form. He also appears hellbent on reaching the top.McGregor, meanwhile, continues to recover from a broken leg suffered during his second successive defeat to Poirier earlier this year.It is unclear when McGregor will return to the Octagon, or if he'll ever generate the momentum needed to return to the heights he reached when he was in his prime.

Rising UFC star Islam Makhachev is no longer interested in fighting Conor McGregor

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11946150" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="khabib-nurmagomedov" source="Orion">Khabib Nurmagomedov</keyword> was confirmed as a Hall of Fame fighter Saturday.</li><li>But he was "pissed off" the night he was told he'd be inducted, according to <keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword> boss <keyword id="12003697" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="dana-white" source="Orion">Dana White</keyword>.</li></ul>LAS VEGAS — <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/khabib-nurmagomedov" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khabib Nurmagomedov</a> was "pissed off" on the night he got told he'd be inducted into the <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> Hall of Fame later this year.The 33-year-old retired after a submission win over Justin Gaethje at a behind-closed-doors event Insider attended in October 2020.He sent the American to sleep with the chokehold, <a href="https://www.insider.com/ufc-254-khabib-nurmagomedov-sent-gaethje-to-sleep-cried-retired-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dropped to his knees, cried in the middle of the Octagon, and gave an emotional speech</a>.It brought to an end a career in which he defeated top-tier opponents Rafael dos Anjos, Edson Barboza, <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/conor-mcgregor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conor McGregor</a>, Dustin Poirier, and Gaethje — all while barely losing a round.The Hall of Fame announcement was made Saturday during the UFC 272 event that took place inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, much to the surprise of fans, and even media, in attendance.A two-minute promo clip started playing on the jumbotron, and on the ESPN pay-per-view broadcast."I grew up in the mountain, I'm coming from nowhere," Nurmagomedov could be heard saying at the start of the clip.He said nobody at the time understood him, or the papakha — a wool hat from his region that he'd wear at weigh-in ceremonies."Smash everybody to 29-0. Who this guy world champion? Where he from? Dagestan. Wrestling all his life with bears. This guy crazy."In the last biggest event in UFC, I'm going to show best performance and retire undefeated, undisputed lightweight champ. Become one of the greatest lightweights of all time. This is my dream, and I follow this," he said.UFC commentator and former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping then said: "The reality is there is only one Khabib Nurmagomedov. And there may never be another one."Retired at 29-0, undefeated, undisputed, and its arguable that he never even lost a round in the UFC. For all those reasons and many more, without a shadow of a doubt, Khabib Nurmagomedov should be in the UFC Hall of Fame."<h2>According to the UFC boss Dana White, Khabib was 'pissed off' that night</h2><div type="image" title="Khabib Nurmagomedov's Hall of Fame induction this summer was confirmed at UFC 272." height="690" width="1250" msid="90062311" hostid="261"></div>Nurmagomedov was Octagonside when the promo was played.He didn't look particularly "pissed off" when the announcement itself was made, and embraced his friends and training partners like manager Ali Abdelaziz, UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, and UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev.White then walked over to Nurmagomedov, and said congratulations, before Ari Emanuel, the CEO of Endeavor which owns the UFC, did the same.Watch the promo here:<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/snpAJ4R6Mdg" frameborder="0"></iframe>When asked for comment regarding Nurmagomedov's reaction to the news, <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/dana-white" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dana White</a> told Insider and reporters: "He looked pissed off tonight."White said: "He was pissed off tonight. I don't know what happened to Khabib. I kept telling him, 'What pissed you off tonight'?"There could have been a few potential reasons. Makhachev had just been denied an immediate UFC title shot and will instead have to fight Beneil Dariush.More recently, <a href="https://www.insider.com/tim-elliot-beats-tagir-ulanbekov-handing-khabib-second-coaching-loss-2022-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tim Elliot had defeated Tagir Ulanbekov, who Nurmagomedov helps coach. The loss is Nurmagomedov's second as an MMA coach</a>.On the Elliott and Ulanbekov fight, White said: "I think that might be it, too."<a href="https://www.ufc.com/news/khabib-eagle-nurmagomedov-named-ufc-hall-fame-class-2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In a separate statement, White said</a>: "Khabib is one of the greatest athletes to ever compete in professional <keyword id="11893855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports" source="Orion">sports</keyword>."No one dominated their opponents that way Khabib did … it will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer."The 2022 UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place during International Fight Week in Las Vegas in July.

Khabib Nurmagomedov was 'pissed off' the night he was told he would be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="13318817" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="rafael-dos-anjos" source="Orion">Rafael dos Anjos</keyword> is campaigning for a <keyword id="11928262" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="conor-mcgregor" source="Orion">Conor McGregor</keyword> fight.</li><li>The veteran lightweight spoke to Insider and other reporters after demolishing Renato Moicano.</li></ul>LAS VEGAS — <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/rafael-dos-anjos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rafael dos Anjos</a> challenged <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/conor-mcgregor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conor McGregor</a> to a summer showdown shortly after beating his <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC 272</a> opponent beyond recognition on Saturday.The Brazilian fighter was in awesome form and punished Renato Moicano through the first four rounds of their five-round non-title lightweight bout.Moicano was <a href="https://www.insider.com/rafael-dos-anjos-beat-renato-moicano-until-he-was-unrecognizable-2022-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">so bloody, bruised, and banged up by the fifth round, that he looked disfigured</a>."I really wanted the doctor to stop it," dos Anjos told reporters at a post-fight media event Insider attended at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.A doctor checked Moicano's vision and wounds before the fourth round and again in the fifth, but he was allowed to continue fighting both times.And fight on he did —much to dos Anjos' frustration."I gotta do what I gotta do. I was trying to finish the fight, but the guy was tough as nails."As for what dos Anjos wants next, there's only one fighter he had in mind — the former two-weight world champion McGregor, who he had been scheduled to fight at <keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword> 196 six years ago but had to withdraw from the bout citing injury.There's unfinished business there, for dos Anjos at least."It looks like Conor is coming back in the summer," he said. "That could be a good one."Between Charles Oliveira's UFC championship defense against Justin Gaethje at UFC 274 and Islam Makhachev linked with a No.1 contender fight with Beneil Dariush, options are seemingly limited at the top of the division."We'll see, man. You know a lot of things can happen. I just want to be active. I want to be training. I need good names."I've been in this game for so many years, fought everybody in two divisions. I need names that make me want to go to the gym and train hard for it. That's what I want."<h2>McGregor is a name that makes dos Anjos want to go to the gym for</h2><div type="image" title="Rafael dos Anjos is pushing for a Conor McGregor fight." height="1331" width="2000" msid="90060587" hostid="261"></div>McGregor would be one of those names. Even more than the winner of a prospective fight between Michael Chandler and Tony Ferguson. "The Conor fight would make more sense," dos Anjos said.He later added: "I think the moment that we live in right now, that fight would make a lot of sense."For dos Anjos, it makes sense because he's just returned to the Octagon following a 16-month layoff due to injury and surgery, and the Moicano fight was his first match back.McGregor is in a similar position after breaking his leg during a first-round loss to Dustin Poirier last summer — his second successive stoppage defeat to the American."The division is kind of crazy right now, and I think that fight would make a lot of sense," dos Anjos said."Conor is a big name and sells a lot of pay-per-views. That would be a big money fight, of course. We have a history, too."Like I said, I'm looking for names that make me want to go to the gym and train. It's been so many years in this game. I don't want to fight names that don't interest me, that don't push me to go to the gym."I'm 37 years old [and] fought pretty much everybody in two divisions. I think he'd be the guy to motivate me to work hard for it."

You Searched For "beneil dariush" and got 9 results

A 31-year-old UFC fighter looked like a video game come to life when he scored a brutal, spinning back-fist KO

Alan Dawson

Khabib Nurmagomedov campaigns for his protege Islam Makhachev to secure a UFC title shot after ruthless run

Alan Dawson

Islam Makhachev showed his UFC championship belt to brutal Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov

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American fighter Sean O'Malley called himself a 'pink poodle,' threatening 'to kill the little Russian' at UFC 280

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Video footage emerges from an MMA event that put virtual reality users into the thick of the fighting action

Alan Dawson

Islam Makhachev said he'd 'smash' Conor McGregor even though he's 'drunk all days'

Alan Dawson

Rising UFC star Islam Makhachev is no longer interested in fighting Conor McGregor

Alan Dawson

Khabib Nurmagomedov was 'pissed off' the night he was told he would be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame

Alan Dawson

Rafael dos Anjos challenged Conor McGregor to a summer showdown after beating UFC opponent beyond recognition

Alan Dawson