Islam Makhachev put on a dominant performance against Dan Hooker at UFC 267. The Russian was able to get the fight on the ground quickly and snatched up the submission in a quick fashion.

The performance gets him further in the top-5 of the lightweight division and will get him close to a title shot. Many expect he'll need to get one more fight before he's able to challenge the winner of Charles Oliveria-Dustin Poirier.

If you ask Islam Makhachev though, he tells a different story. The Russian isn't interested in a number one contender's bout, he wants the belt next.

“I feel good because I show my level – I don’t know how many minutes (it took),” Islam Makhachev said at the UFC 267 post-fight press conference (transcription via Sherdog). “Now everybody going to talk like Hooker is an easy opponent, he don’t have grappling or wrestling. Hooker is tough. He beat a lot of wrestling, grappling guy too. He beat Gilbert Burns, many, many guys. I think I deserve now.

“When ]Michael] Chandler beat Hooker they give him title fight. Why not [me]? I am ready, too. I’m here not to beat 15 people and fight. I have nine fights [in a row now].”

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Asked about Oliveria and Porier facing off at UFC 269, Islam Makhachev believes the Louisiana-based fighter will become the next champion.

“I think Poirier is gonna beat Oliveira,” Makhachev said. “Many things going to change in next couple months. That’s why I’m going to wait.”

Only time will tell if Islam Makhachev's decision to wait will pay off. It's obvious that he is very close to a title shot after the performance at UFC 267.