2024 is shaping up to be a great year for fight fans. Dana White has already announced some big fights for the upcoming pay-per-views. Now 155 lbs champion, Islam Makhachev has announced his plans for this year, which involve clashes against big lightweight names. However, he received some mixed responses and fans took jibes at him for avoiding Charles Oliveira.

Islam Makhachev put his rivalry with Alexander Volkanovski to bed with an impressive KO win over the Australian at UFC 294. Thereafter, people started speculating about his next title defense. However, Makhachev has now shared a blueprint for his next couple of fights. Let’s see what the Dagestan native had to say.

Islam Makhachev plans to fight twice in 2024

Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s protégé has dropped some massive news regarding his 2024 plans. The lightweight champion wants to fight twice this year, once in June and once at the Madison Square Garden event in November. Islam Makhachev made this statement days after Dana White announced a couple of lightweight fights for UFC 299 and UFC 300. He wants to fight BMF champion Justin Gaethje in June and then fight the winner of the Charles Oliveira vs Arman Tsarukyan fight set for UFC 300.

Claiming that he is willing to fight anyone in his first 2025 fight, Islam Makhachev took to X (aka Twitter) and announced, “June 8 UFC PPV vs [Gaethje], November UFC MSG vs Olivera/Arman, February 2025 vs Anybody Inshallah.” It seems like the lightweight champion isn’t planning to go hunting for the welterweight title in 2024. Meanwhile, fans shared some lukewarm responses to this announcement. Let’s see how they reacted to the news.

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Fans claim Makhachev is scared of Charles Oliveira

While many fans were excited about Islam Makhachev’s plans, one fan ideated that he was scared to fight Charles Oliveira. This reaction was the result of the Dagestan native’s plan to fight Justin Gaethje first.

Some fans think that it is a fair opportunity for Gaethje, Oliveira, and even Arman Tsarukyan.

Some fans think that the UFC might have other plans for Islam Makhachev. They believe he might have to fight on his usual spot in October in Abu Dhabi.

Many people were disappointed with Makhachev choosing to fight only twice this year.

A lot of users on X shared the same concern about the lightweight champion’s Abu Dhabi appearance in October.

Again, two fights in twelve months isn’t what his fans are asking for.

However, some fans were hoping that Islam Makahcehv could go forward with his plans instead of the UFC’s plans for him to fight in the UAE.

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Islam Makahchev recently mentioned wanting two belts. But for now, he is focused on defending his lightweight gold. Although he has his plans, there are chances that UFC alters those and puts something else on Makhachev’s plate. Well, all those questions will be answered as we move ahead in 2024.

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