Now that Charles Oliveira has ditched both Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje and former Bellator MMA champion Michael Chandler, the beltless Brazilian can turn his attention to cleaning up the rest of the lightweight contender pool.
While reclaiming his lost crown in the process.
Topping the list are two worthy lightweight contenders in Islam Makhachev and Beneil Dariush. The Dagestani bruiser, currently ranked 3rd at 155 pounds, is the winner of 10 straight with six wicked finishes.
As for Dariush, who recently defeated former interim champion Tony Ferguson to earn his seventh straight win, he sits one spot below Chandler at No. 6. Four of those seven wins were by knockout or submission.
Unsurprisingly, former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has fought for his compatriot, but it seems his influence with promotion president Dana White will not be a factor in the final decision, for better or for worse.
“Honestly, this is the first time since we [last] to speak [with] each other, he doesn’t answer,” Nurmagomedov told ESPN. “I send a message like, ‘No way does another guy have to be fighting for the title.’ I said something like a similar message but he doesn’t answer. I think he might have been busy. This first time. It’s okay, everyone makes mistakes.”
Makhachev and Dariush were expected to clash for the top spot in the lightweight title chase last February; However, Dariush was injured and replaced by Bobby Green. Makhachev won this fight via technical knockout in the first round.
“If you want to come back from injury, fight someone like top guys and then fight for the title,” Nurmagomedov said. “Beneil has to fight the challenger, Islam has to fight Charles Oliveira for the title. This is my opinion. This is fair. 11 win streak vs 10 win streak, let them fight.
A decision on Oliveira’s next opponents is expected in the next few weeks.