Justin Gaethje called out Islam Makhachev to give him the chance for the title shot instead of Charles Oliveira. The champ supports the idea, issuing a warning to the No. 2-ranked fighter, telling him to “be careful.”
Makhachev is expected to face No. 1-ranked Oliveira, whom he earlier defeated via submission in October 2022. The two were supposed to enter the cage in October, but “Do Bronx” was forced to withdraw due to a training injury. This resulted in a fight between Makhachev and featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, with the former winning the bout and becoming the pound-for-pound king of UFC. After this success, Makhachev and Oliveira are about to meet again for a rematch, but Gaethje thinks it is now his time.
In his recent post on X, “The Highlight” challenged the champ, underscored Oliveira’s failure to have the rematch, and tagged UFC CEO Dana White to push the idea.
I can do more than kicking, be careful 😉😴💤 https://t.co/yyCSbd7mVm
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) December 27, 2023
“Waiting on the call,” Gaethje posted. “Ready when you are UFC, Dana White. Let’s see who can kick the others head off first Islam Makhachev.
“‘Do Bronx’ had his shot and didn’t show up for the rematch. It is what it is.”
Interestingly, Makhachev responded to the callout with an affirmative message alongside a warning for the challenger.
“I can do more than kicking,” Makhachev replied alongside winking and sleeping emojis, suggesting a KO. “Be careful.”
The response is not surprising, with Makhachev earlier expressing his interest in fighting Gaethje instead of Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan, whom he had both defeated. As the Russian explained, the “good way” to win is to defeat a new name instead of rematches, which he has no interest in entertaining.
“To be honest, I’ve already said that I’m not that interested in rematches,” Makhachev said during an IBA Boxing event on Saturday in Dubai. “Because if you want to win someone in a good way, you have to add new names. There is Gaethje, who I would say deserved a fight. I think it would be more interesting to fight him.”
