Justin Gaethje Is Next Title Challenger, Islam Makhachev Vs. Beneil Dariush To Happen, Manager Says

After Khabib Nurmagomedov vacated the title, many fighters expressed the desire to be the best in the lightweight division.

While Dustin Poirier and Charles Oliveira will find out who will be the king of the lightweight division, Islam Makhachev, Justin Gaethje and Beneil Dariush are finding out who will be the next title challenger.

Gaethje defeated Michael Chandler and arguably proving that he deserves to be the next title challenger. But Makhachev earned another great victory against Dan Hooker via first-round submission and proved that he is one of the most dangerous prospects.

The battle between Dariush and Makhachev is already scheduled for a UFC Fight Night on February 26.

“Justin Gaethje is going to be next,” Manager Ali Abdelaziz said.

“Probably, Beneil Dariush is going to fight Islam Makhachev. Probably, you are going to see Beneil Dariush fight Islam Makhachev and Justin Gaethje is going to fight for the title probably in May.”

Abdelaziz manages Makhachev, Gaethje and Dariush.

Makhachev is a skilled sambo fighter; many say his fighting style is similar to Nurmagomedov’s.

Dariush, on the other hand, has superb striking and jiu-jitsu skills. The No. 3 and No. 4 ranked fighters will find out who will be after Gaethje.