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Current UFC Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev (Russia) admitted that he was offered a Welterweight title fight against current champion Leon Edwards (United Kingdom) at UFC 300. This could have been the perfect promotion for UFC 300 which has been criticised by MMA fans for not being exciting.
Speaking to MMA Junkie, Makhachev said he was observing Ramadan which would make training for such a big fight far too difficult. “Because we have Ramadan now. One month of fasting, and it’s not possible to do training in Ramadan. It’s very hard,” he said.
The Lightweight champion also said that he asked his manager to push UFC 300 to a later date. “I asked Ali (Abdelaziz) can they push the UFC 300 like two weeks, I will be ready, but he said it’s not possible,” he said.
Despite Makhachev vs Edwards not happening, UFC 300 has three title fights lined up- Alex Pereira defends his light heavyweight title against former champ Jamahal Hill, women’s strawweight champ Zhang Weili faces Yan Xiaonan, and Justin Gaethje fights Max Holloway for the BMF title.