Islam Makhachev beats Bobby Green via TKO inside the first round at UFC Fight Night as Russian demands a title fight next

Islam Makhachev dominated his way into a title shot with a TKO victory over Bobby Green at UFC Fight Night on Saturday.

It did not take the Russian long to defeat Green as he only required 3:23 to do so in the first round.

Green did his best to manage his distance in fear of the takedown but Makhachev’s dominant wrestling caught up to him where he was able to take Green’s back and finish him.

Makhachev was originally scheduled to fight Benil Dariush but a foot injury forced Dariush to pull out, meaning Green saved the main event on 10 days’ notice.

With the pressure of a title fight looming and a new opponent change, the Dagestan-born fighter was not fazed as he came through his latest test effortlessly.

‘I just want a title fight,’ Makhachev said in his post-fight interview. ‘No more. I’m tired of all these things. I need title fight. I’m ready. I’m here.’

His close team-mate and former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov believes Makhachev can emulate him too. 

‘Islam Makhachev has all the championship potential that I possessed en-route to 29-0,’ he said.

Islam Makhachev in line for the winner of Charles Oliveira vs Justin Gaethje

In the aftermath of the fight UFC President Dana White confirmed Makhachev will get the next title shot.

Current lightweight champion Charles Oliveira defends his title against Justin Gaethje at UFC 274 on May 7. 

Makhachev believes Olivera will finish Gaethje in the second or third round due to his elite ground game.

However, he has a different prediction for his fight with the lightweight champ.

‘I’m gonna make him tired, pressure him and make him give up because I know this guy don’t like when someone goes three four rounds with him… when he try to finish someone with a choke and he cannot do this, he gives up all the time.’

With his 22nd professional win Makhachev is now tied with Olivera in lightweight-win streaks with 10 and moves up to second in active UFC win streaks behind the welterweight champion Kamaru Usman who sits at the top with 15.

The Russian has been praised by Nurmagomedov’s late father calling him his greatest student and his son is making it his mission to ensure Makhachev becomes a UFC champion.

Now standing in Makhachev’s corner, Nurmagomedov now only has one hurdle to jump before Makhachev is finally a UFC champion and his father’s wishes are fulfilled.

By Byron Goodchild