Makhachev Rolls Over Green, Inches Closer To Title Shot

Las Vegas: Islam Makhachev did exactly what he said he would do, finishing Bobby Green inside of five minutes. Makhachev took a few minutes to get Green's timing before washing over his opponent and leaving the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Makhachev and Green measured one another on the feet for approximately the first half of the round. Once Makhachev committed to the grappling, he refused to let up. Green initially did well fending off the aggressor's takedown attempts, but Makhachev would not be denied. Khabib Nurmagomedov's protege continued to chain takedowns together until he grounded Green and worked towards the mount. Makhachev caught Green between full mount and back mount, reigning down strikes on a shelled-up opponent until referee Herb Dean waved off the contest. The finish officially came at 3:23 of Round 1 via TKO.

"I feel good. Thank God for this performance. I'm very happy. I trained so hard for this fight. I hope Beneil fixes his problem very soon and I'll meet him," Makhachev said in the post-fight interview. "I just want the title fight. No more. I'm tired of all these things I want the title. I'm ready, I'm here. Always training, always ready. Just tell me where.

"Beneil is one of the best in the world. I'm going to take this belt and I'll be waiting for him there."

Green's defeat dropped him to 29-13-1 overall after winning two in a row coming in. Makhachev (22-1) extended his active UFC winning streak to 10 with wins over Green, Dan Hooker, Thiago Moises and Arman Tsarukyan, among others.

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