"Islam Makhachev is so overrated" - Dillon Danis, Mike Perry, Tatiana Suarez, and others react to the UFC Vegas 31 main event
Surging lightweight star Islam Makhachev has taken care of business once again after dominating Thiago Moises in the main event of UFC Vegas 31. It was a largely one-sided affair, with Makhachev once again showcasing his brilliance.
The Russian fighter was able to utilize his superior grappling skills to perfection as he controlled the fight's tempo for more than fifteen minutes. He eventually secured a rear-naked choke submission victory in the penultimate round.
The win took Makhachev's unbeaten run to eight wins and improved his pro-MMA record to 20-1. Moises, meanwhile, had his three-fight win streak snapped as the Dagestani completely outmatched him.
As dominant as Makhachev's performance was, however, the main event of UFC Vegas 31 was met by mixed reviews from MMA fighters who tuned into the event. Check out how the pros reacted to UFC Vegas 31: Islam Makhachev vs. Thiago Moises:
MMA fighters impressed with Islam Makhachev's performance at UFC Vegas 31
UFC stalwart Mike Perry, undefeated prospect Tatiana Suarez and tenth-ranked middleweight Edman Shahbazyan were impressed by Islam Makhachev's stellar performance. Perry appreciated the "high-level grappling" he witnessed while Suarez and Shahbazyan expressed their amazement.
Welterweight contender Belal Muhammad and former UFC middleweight Mike Rhodes expect big things for the Russian fighter in the near future. Muhammad believes that UFC Vegas 31 is the beginning of the "Islam Makhachev era," while Rhodes believes that the 29-year-old is destined to become a UFC champion.
Not everyone was pleased by Islam Makhachev's win
Meanwhile, former top UFC contender Jimi Manuwa and Bellator star Dillon Danis are on the frontlines of the anti-Islam Makhachev movement. Based on their tweets, it was evident that they're not impressed by what they witnessed at UFC Vegas 31.
Manuwa was so bored that he was hoping for the fight to end in under five rounds. For him, Makhachev vs. Moises felt like a preliminary card fight rather than a critical main event showdown.
Meanwhile, Danis has made it clear that he isn't buying the Islam Makhachev hype. He called the up-and-coming 155-pounder "overrated" and implied that he could out-grapple Makhachev.
But in the end, all Makhachev cares about is his next fight. He's adamant about getting a fighter in the top 5 next as he named three top contenders on his hit list.
Also Read: UFC Vegas 31: Islam Makhachev vs. Thiago Moises full card results and video highlights