Islam Makhachev said he isn't concerned with being known as the greatest lightweight of all time, but does value setting records and earning his way into the UFC Hall of Fame.
He has a chance to do something Saturday night in Inglewood, California, that no other fighter in his division has ever accomplished — successfully defend his belt four times. Four others have done it three times.
And if he does that, Makhachev puts himself in lightweight GOAT status.
''I swear I never think about that,'' Makhachev said.
Standing in his way is 10th-ranked challenger Renato Moicano. He is a late-hour replacement for top-ranked challenger Arman Tsarukyan, who pulled out of the bout Friday because ''of significant back pain'' related to an injury, UFC CEO Dana White announced on X.
Makhachev — the UFC's top-ranked pound-for-pound fighter — is one of three fighters who will enter the Octagon from the same Russian gym. Umar Nurmagomedov will try to win the bantamweight championship in the co-main event and Tagir Ulanbekov will compete in a flyweight match.
''This is the biggest night for the team,'' Makhachev said.
Makhachev, 33, takes a 26-1 record into the fight that includes a division-record 14-match winning streak. He claimed his first championship Oct. 22, 2022, in a second-round submission of Charles Oliveira. Makhachev since twice defended his title against Alexander Volkanovski and once against Dustin Poirier.
