Islam Makhachev Reports Fight With Leon Edwards Was Offered For UFC 300
By FCF Staff
In recent months, there was extensive talk and speculation regarding what fight would headline UFC 300, and Islam Makhachev’s reporting a fight between him and Leon Edwards was tabled.
Due to the hype surrounding the historic event, rumours and reports circled for weeks about which all-star fights would be added to UFC 300. More recently, the promotion confirmed that a fight between former light-heavyweight champ Jamahal Hill and current champ, Alex Pereira, would be the main event.
But, while speaking with MMA Junkie recently, lightweight champ Islam Makhachev reported he was offered to fight welterweight champ, Leon Edwards at UFC 300. Due to Ramadan, the Islamic holy month which involves daytime fasting, however, Makhachev could not take the fight. Ramadan ends on April 9th.
“Honestly, yes, but it’s not possible, man,” Makhachev said. “Because we have Ramadan now. One month with fasting, and it’s not possible to do training in Ramadan. It’s very hard. You have to fast when the sun rises, and all day you have to fast. … Training this time is very hard.”
“Of course (it makes me sad), this is a dream fight for me,” Makhachev said. “I don’t have any small chance to fight at UFC 300, that’s why I’m very upset, man. It’s a big deal, big fight with Leon Edwards for the second belt, but this time I miss the chance.”
The 32-year-old Makhachev (25-1), who is coming off a head kick, knockout of featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski in October, said he’d like to fight Dustin Poirier (30-8) in June. The latter recently knocked out Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 299.