Michael Bisping says Islam Makhachev deserves to chase a third UFC title at middleweight

Bisping pointed to Alex Pereira being given a heavyweight shot against Ciryl Gane, and said Sean Strickland "would be a good matchup" for the welterweight champion at 185lb.

Michael Bisping says Islam Makhachev should get the chance to move up to middleweight and chase a third UFC title if he wins his next welterweight fight.

"He says he's almost done," Bisping said on Believe You Me. "One of his last fights. So say he has this one, let's say he beats the winner of Prates and Morales. So then he's got two defenses at welterweight, four defenses at lightweight, that moving up to 185 and trying to become the triple champ? I like the sound of that."

He continued: "And if anyone deserves it, it is Islam Makhachev. Remember, Alex Pereira was just granted that opportunity to go up to heavyweight and fight Ciryl Gane."

Pereira lost to Gane at the White House and now meets Sergei Pavlovich in the co-main event of UFC 335 in Las Vegas on 12 December.

Bisping said Makhachev has few options left at welterweight beyond the winner of Carlos Prates and Michael Morales, who fight for the interim title, and Shavkat Rakhmonov, who he said "may or may not ever fight again". "Other than moving up to 185, Islam Makhachev would have really done it all," he said.

He added: "And if Sean Strickland is still the champion, that would be a good matchup. I'm not saying he beats Sean, Khamzat [Chimaev] couldn't beat Sean, but Islam wouldn't get tired at 185, because that's what Khamzat did."

Strickland took the middleweight title from Chimaev by split decision at UFC 328 in May. MMA Junkie's Mike Bohn has said a title rematch with Nassourdine Imavov is planned for February in Florida, though nothing has been announced.

Makhachev has said his next fight will be one of the last of his career, and that he turned down a defence against Prates because the Brazilian had recently lost to Ian Machado Garry, a fighter Makhachev has already beaten.

Bisping also defended Makhachev against criticism for not fighting sooner, which leaves him facing only one of Prates and Morales next year, comparing it to a scene from the Bruce Lee film Enter the Dragon. "He's allowing them to fight each other, so it's the art of fighting without fighting," he said. "The man has earned the right to do that. He does have the ability and has earned the right to pick and choose his opponents and take a little bit of time."

READ NEXTArman Tsarukyan points to Islam Makhachev after Volkanovski says 'you ain't holding me down'Read the next story →

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