5 UFC lightweights who may get a title shot before Islam Makhachev

#4. Rafael dos Anjos - No.6 ranked UFC lightweight

Rafael dos Anjos holds a record of 30-13

It seems as though there is a significant chance that the UFC will not simply hand Islam Makhachev a title shot with a win on Saturday. If the Russian doesn't finish Bobby Green, he will likely lose momentum. These factors may mean that Khabib Nurmagomedov's protege will have to face one more opponent before fighting for gold.

In this scenario, that man could well turn out to be Rafael dos Anjos. The former lightweight champion will fight Rafael Fiziev on March 5. Should he put on a particularly impressive performance in that one, he could become a viable option to face Makhachev if he needs one more fight.

With the pair fighting just one week apart, the fighters are already on a similar timeline and might be able to get another fight in without much delay. If Dos Anjos beats Makhachev, he would gain all of the Russian's momentum and would likely have a title shot in the future.

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#3. Michael Chandler - No. 5 ranked UFC lightweight

Michael Chandler holds a record of 22-7

Michael Chandler may be coming off consecutive losses, but he is currently only one spot behind Islam Makhachev in the UFC rankings. With this in mind, perhaps there is a chance Chandler will be able to leapfrog Makhachev in the queue for the title shot.

The only reason this seems like a possibility at the moment is that Makhachev is now facing an unranked opponent. Even if the Russian wins, there will likely be those who suggest he ought to face a tougher test before challenging for the title. This is where Michael Chandler could come in.

Chandler appears to be headed for a big-time fight against the popular Tony Ferguson. Should Chandler win that, he would be right back in the title picture at 155 lbs, and a fight with Makhachev could make sense. If the American could get the win in that one, he would jump ahead in the race for a title shot.

Additionally, Chandler has had close, entertaining fights with Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje may help his case for a rematch with either of them.