Islam Makhachev usurped Anderson Silva's win streak record in the UFC but the welterweight champion's run is not quite the same as ‘The Spider', per a rising 170 pound combatant. Daniil Donchenko is the fighter in question and the former TUF champion discussed this before his recent victory at UFC Paris.

With the win over Punahele Soriano that puts him on a strong path upward in the 170 pound hierarchy, when asked for his thoughts on Makhachev's welterweight title defense at UFC 330 against Ian Machado Garry, Donchenko said [via Bowks Talking Bouts],

“Yes. I saw this match, Ian Garry and what I thought that Ian, he just was not ready to be a champion. He just was not ready to win this fight. How I say before, it's all in our head and Ian Garry was not a champion in his head in this day. So to be honest it was not spectacular fight for me. I was not like really enjoying the fight but it is what it is. Makhachev [is] champion. He beat Anderson Silva.â€

“But if we will compare 18 wins from Anderson Silva and 18 wins from Makhachev, it's different kind of wins, different spectacular stuff. Anderson Silva, he was like crazy highlights and stuff. Knockout wins and Makhachev in this division, he have more like decision wins. But he's a champion, he's number one pound for pound.â€

Islam Makhachev and the one UFC welterweight who would truly push the pace on him, according to Donchenko

Further delving into his analysis on who could push Islam Makhachev in the UFC's welterweight ranks, Donchenko continued [via Bowks Talking Bouts],

“I just think until he fight [Yaroslav] Amosov because no to be honest like of course Amosov can have like hard fight with everyone from top five. Like Makhachev, he had like hard fight with Ian Gary. Even if Garry, he didn't work that much but it was hard fight.â€

“But then [Yaroslav] Amosov will fight with Makhachev. If it will happen, he have much better striking and he is grappling, he will not defend against Makhachev, he will attack him. You should not wait. ‘Amosov have very good takedown defense, he will defend against Makhachev.' No, he will attack. So yeah.â€

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ONE Championship

Beating Hiroki Akimoto is only step one for Jonathan Haggerty. Reclaiming a second world title is the real target.

“The General†defends his ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Championship against the former divisional titleholder in the main event of ONE SAMURAI 4 inside Tokyo's Ariake Arena on Saturday, October 17.

Akimoto's road to this opportunity was not a straight line. He opened his ONE Championship tenure with an impressive 6-1 stretch before dropping three straight, then rebounded with three consecutive decision wins, the last of which came against Taimu Hisai at ONE SAMURAI 1, the same card where Haggerty retained his belt against Yuki Yoza.

“He's been in the organization for a long time. He's fought the best. And now it's his time to challenge me for the belt,†Haggerty said. “He's beaten whoever they've put in front of him. Meanwhile, I've basically beaten the top opponents in the division now, so it was only right for him to get his opportunity.â€

Haggerty has followed Akimoto's career for years, long before the two were formally matched up, and few opponents have earned this level of respect from the reigning champion.

Jonathan Haggerty plots path back to Muay Thai gold

Should Saturday go as planned, Haggerty has already mapped out where his career goes next. The Englishman, chasing his 25th career victory, is looking at a return to the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship he lost to Superlek at ONE 168: Denver in September 2024.

He has two specific names in mind for that pursuit, both of whom currently sit atop the Muay Thai side of the division he once ruled.

“Defending the belt means a lot to me, you know. It always has. And to keep defending the belt is the main goal for me,†he said.

“But I believe after I defend this belt, Yod-IQ or Rambolek will be next for me.â€

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Credit: Zuffa LLC

UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria continue to stoke the flames of a potential title rematch.

Tensions between UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje and former titleholder Ilia Topuria are ramping up ahead of a potential immediate rematch.

Gaethje handed Topuria the first loss of his career earlier this year at UFC Freedom 250. In an instant classic, Gaethje defeated Topuria by TKO (corner stoppage) to win the undisputed championship for the first time in his legendary tenure.

Despite Topuria's team recently shutting down imminent return rumors, the former lightweight champ recently took to social media to announce he's been medically cleared to fight. Topuria suffered two broken orbitals in the loss to Gaethje, and a timeline for his comeback seemed uncertain.

Now, Topuria could potentially return by year's end, and his earlier cordiality with Gaethje has seemed to dissipate. Topuria recently accused Gaethje of tampering with his gloves at UFC Freedom 250 in an X-rated social media rant.

Justin Gaethje slams Ilia Topuria's glove tampering allegations

In a recent tweet, Gaethje responded to Topuria's scathing allegations.

“Ilia, 94 days and the best you could come up with is a lame excuse,†Gaethje said.

“As terrible as your last performance. Do better kid.â€

UFC lightweight contenders Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy will fight for a potential No. 1 contender spot this weekend at UFC Freedom 250. If Gaethje postpones his teased retirement, he'll likely fight the Tsarukyan vs. Ruffy winner for his first title defense.

But UFC CEO Dana White recently admitted that the Gaethje vs. Topuria rematch is also possible for the next lightweight title fight. A grudge match between Topuria and rising star Paddy Pimblett has also been discussed.

In either case, tensions are ramping up between Topuria and Gaethje, and there remains no evidence of wrongdoing by Gaethje or his team at UFC Freedom 250. But that hasn't stopped things from getting hostile as rematch talks continue.

Would you want to see Justin Gaethje vs. Ilia Topuria 2 next? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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