UFC 280: Islam Makhachev ready to 'take over Khabib's legacy' as lightweight champion

Islam Makhachev is ready to “take over Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s legacy” as UFC lightweight champion as he prepares to face Charles Oliveira.

That is according to the Russian’s coach, Javier Mendez, who believes he can be even better than ‘The Eagle’.

Rising star Makhachev, 31, challenges for the vacant 155lbs belt against Brazil icon Oliveira, 33, at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi.

The 31-year-old is a long-time training partner of UFC Hall of Famer Nurmagomedov and was a student of his late father, Abdulmanap.

READ MORE: UFC 280: Date, Fight Card, Location, Tickets and more

And Mendez is confident it won't be long before he gets his hands on that gold-plated strap.

“He’s on track; mentally, physically, body’s healthy,” he told The National. “Everything’s going great, sparring’s going good for him.

"Morale, everything. It’s perfect time for Islam to shine and take over Khabib’s legacy as UFC lightweight champion.

"Islam is 100 per cent focused and he’s ready for this challenge because he hasn’t gotten the belt yet and he still needs to get it. Once he gets it more improvements are going to come; he’s going to get sharper, tighter in his game. The more you fight at a high level - five-round, championship-calibre type of performance - the better you’re going to get.

“As long as you don’t take damage and you keep improving step-by-step. I’ve never seen a champion get worst once they win the title; I’ve seen them get better. And that’ll be the case with Islam also.”

READ MORE: Khabib Nurmagomedov's coach provides update on his fighting future after retirement

Mendez's belief that Makhachev will replace Nurmagomedov at the summit of the 155lb division stems from his first-hand view of his sparring sessions, where he showed off an array