UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev claims he didn't turn down Rafael dos Anjos bout, adamant he 'wanted this fight'

UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev claims he never turned down an offer to fight Rafael dos Anjos on short notice last weekend. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Makhachev (22-1), who defeated Bobby Green in a UFC Fight Night main event on Feb. 26, publicly offered to face dos Anjos in a 170-pound fight last weekend, when dos Anjos' original opponent contracted COVID-19. The fight ultimately didn't come together, and dos Anjos (31-13) went on to defeat Renato Moicano instead.

UFC president Dana White told media members last week that Makhachev turned down the dos Anjos fight, but Makhachev said he was the one who asked for it.

«I was in California on vacation, and I called my manager and said, 'Please call the UFC, I am ready to take this fight,'» Makhachev told ESPN. «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, a teammate and protégé of retired legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, declined to say what «conditions» he requested, but reiterated they were not significant.

In addition to claiming Makhachev turned down the dos Anjos fight, White said the UFC will look to book his next bout against No. 4-ranked lightweight Beneil Dariush. Makhachev said he believes Dariush is world class, but isn't interested in anything but a title fight at this time.

"(White) can say whatever he wants, it doesn't matter," Makhachev said. «I'm going to fight anyone, because I'm going to be a champion and I'll fight all the Top 10. I'm going to beat all these guys. When I take this belt, I'm going to beat dos Anjos, all these guys, but UFC has a show in Abu Dhabi [in the fall] and I think I'm deserving.

»