Ali Abdelaziz makes a completely crazy statement by saying that Islam Makhachev would beat Alex Pereira at light heavyweight!
We are in 2025 and the ranking pound for pound of the UFC begins a new year with Islam Makhachev at its head. The Dagestani is recognized by the UFC as the best fighter in all categories. After only one appearance in 2024 (submission victory over Dustin Poirier), Islam Makhachev will return on January 18, 2025 during UFC 311. He will defend his title during the main event against Arman Tsarukyan. In preparation for the fight, the champion is preparing intensely alongside Khabib Nurmagomedov.
In case of victory over Arman Tsarukyan, Islam Makhachev will be making his fourth title defense. Number one pound for pound has never hidden his desire to seize the title welterweight. But according to those around him, he can go even higher. His trainer Javier Mendez thinks he is capable of becoming champion among middleweights. His manager Ali Abdelaziz goes even further. During an interview at MMA Junkiehe declared that Islam Makhachev would defeat Alex Pereira at light heavyweight:
“He had a problem in the first fight with Tsarukyan, I'm not going to make excuses for him. Arman is an absolute beast, he is very tough. I think Arman will be a champion, but I don't think it will be now. It's not his time. He is young. I don't think a man from -70kg to -84kg can beat Islam Makhachev. It doesn't exist. I believe Islam can beat anyone at any time in -70kg, -77kg, -84kg.”
“That’s what I believe in, because he showed me his evolution, his progress. I think Islam would beat Alex Pereira at -93kg, I do. I swear to God. Islam Makhachev would beat Alex Pereira. He’s just going to take him to the ground and finish him, submit him. Alex Pereira can knock out anyone on the planet if he touches you, but I think Islam Makhachev is good too. … Skill for skill, I think he's one of the best fighters, the most complete fighter we've ever seen. It’s not Demetrious Johnson, it’s not anyone else.”
-A better CV than Jon Jones
Islam Makhachev could become champion in three categories other than his own according to Ali Abdelaziz. Even in -93kg against Alex Pereira. According to the manager, he is the most complete fighter in history. Ali Abdelaziz does not stop at comparisons between Alex Pereira and Islam Makhachev. Rest assured, he did not declare that his fighter could overcome Jon Jones. On the other hand, he assures that the Dagestani has a better CV. Particularly on the last opponents of the two fighters:
“The guy has defeated seven of his last eight opponents. He beat number one pound for pound (Alexander Volkanovski). The caliber of fighters he has beaten is not that of Jon Jones, and that is no disrespect to Jon Jones. He's incredible, but he beat Ciryl Gane, who can't wrestle, he beat Stipe Miocic, who's a grandfather. He's old, he's a legend, of course. Islam Makhachev did not make a split decision with Thiago Santos. This never happens. He crushes people. He makes them look like people who don't even belong there, but we'll see. January 18th, one more match for Islam Makhachev, and I think he's going to make it look easy.”
The least we can say is that Ali Abdelaziz knows how to highlight his fighters!
Do you think Ali Abdelaziz is exaggerating about Islam Makhachev?
