Makhachev denies turning down Dos Anjos bout, focused on title shot

Islam Makhachev says he did not turn down a fight with Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 272.

When Dos Anjos was left without an opponent for this past weekend's event, Makhachev - who had just competed Feb. 26 - offered to step in. UFC president Dana White said the surging lightweight contender ultimately declined the matchup when the UFC offered it to him, but according to Makhachev, that's not true.

"I'd been in California on vacation. I wake up and call my manager - 'Hey Ali (Abdelaziz), I saw some news. Please call UFC and say I am ready to take this fight,'" Makhachev told ESPN's Brett Okamoto. "I ask about some conditions. Very small conditions. Nothing big or not possible to do. ... But the UFC not do it.

"That's why this fight not happen. And that's it."

Makhachev declined to reveal what conditions he asked for. He said he's unsure why White said the Russian turned the fight down.

White also said the UFC plans to rebook a fight between Makhachev and Beneil Dariush because Makhachev chose not to fight Dos Anjos, who went on to defeat Renato Moicano.

But Makhachev, who beat Bobby Green in a UFC main event in February to extend his winning streak to 10, believes he has earned a title shot against the winner of Charles Oliveira versus Justin Gaethje, which is set for UFC 274 on May 7. Makhachev said he can fight the likes of Dariush and Dos Anjos once he's the lightweight champion.

"If Oliveira beats Gaethje, 11-win streak versus 10-win streak, this is similar (to) Khabib (Nurmagomedov) and Tony (Ferguson)," Makhachev said. "This is biggest fight in lightweight division."

When asked if he would be willing to face Dariush this summer in a No. 1 contender bout, Makhachev said he isn't sure when Dariush will be ready to return from his leg injury and he doesn't want to wait very long for him.