, author: Plackhin A.

Khabib named Oliveira and Makhachev the only candidates for the title fight

All other contenders in the lightweight division must seek the title through qualifying bouts.

Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov reacted to Iranian-born American fighter Beneil Dariush's statement that he has decided he can fight directly for the title.

"Dariush is very close to a championship fight. He has a good winning streak. But when he had a chance to fight for the belt, he got injured. So, when he recovers, he's going to have challenger fights on a par with other great fighters," Nurmagomedov explained.

According to Khabib, at the moment the only candidates for the UFC lightweight title fight are Russian Islam Makhachev and Brazilian Charles Oliveira.

x