Because of his current win streak and his association with Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev’s been getting quite a push. The 30-year-old Dagestani will try to extend his eight-fight win streak when he faces replacement opponent Dan Hooker at UFC 267.
Makhachev’s manager Ali Abdelaziz already predicted a win for his client, saying Hooker’s only chance for victory is through a lucky punch. “The Hangman,” however, isn’t buying into the hype.
“I’m not convinced. If they’re just doing this to kinda construct some mentality in him that he’s indestructible… I’m not buying it,” Hooker said in a recent media scrum.