Islam Makhachev denies Dana White's claims he turned down Rafael dos Anjos fight

UFC lightweight Islam Makhachev says he never turned down a short-notice clash with Rafael dos Anjos on Sunday but in fact asked the promotion to make the bout - while he also reiterated his “dream” to fight for the title in Abu Dhabi later this year.

Makhachev, the division’s No 3-ranked contender, publicly offered to take on Dos Anjos in the co-main event at UFC 272 after the Brazilian’s original opponent, Rafael Fiziev, contracted Covid-19.

The pair exchanged messages on social media confirming they were both willing to fight, but Dos Anjos eventually went on to face Renato Moicano, defeating his compatriot by unanimous decision. UFC president Dana White, meanwhile, told the media that Makhachev turned down the Dos Anjos opportunity.

The Dagestan native, 30, was coming off a victory against Bobby Green the previous week, when his dominant first-round TKO lifted his win streak to 10.

However, seeking to give his version of events, Makhachev told ESPN early on Tuesday: "I was in California on vacation, and I called my manager and said, 'Please call the UFC, I am ready to take this fight’.

“I asked about some conditions, very small conditions, nothing big or not possible to do. It was not the UFC calling me. I wanted this fight, but the UFC did not do it. That's it."

Makhachev, whose professional MMA record reads 22-1, would not say what the stipulations were, but said he did not agree with White that he should next rebook his bout with Beneil Dariush. Dariush, the No 4-ranked challenger at lightweight, was Makhachev’s initial opponent last week before getting injured in training and leaving Green to step-in.

"[White] can say whatever he wants, it doesn't matter," Makhachev said. "I'm going to fight anyone, because I'm