UFC lightweight Ignacio Bahamondes reveals preferred opponent for next fight

With three finishes in his last three fights, the most recent of which came last weekend at UFC 313 against Jalin Turner in just two minutes and 29 seconds, Ignacio Bahamondes has earned his spot in the UFC lightweight top 15.

But what's next for the 27-year-old?

In an interview with DAZN News, the Chilean fighter said he dreams of facing fifth-ranked lightweight Max Holloway, although he admitted that such a bout isn't realistic just yet.

"There are a lot of fights I like," Bahamondes said. "Some of them are much bigger. A dream fight for me would be Max Holloway. I’m not in a position to ask for that name yet, it’s way too big."

"La Jaula" mentioned another name, one he sees as a more realistic option: Benoît Saint-Denis.

"I like Saint-Denis," he explained. "I like that fight for me. I think it’s a really good fight, even for the division, even for the promotion. It would be an awesome fight, me against him. If they want to make it happen in France, I would be more than happy to go fight there."

A win against Saint-Denis, ranked 13th in the division, could bring Bahamondes closer to the title currently held by Islam Makhachev.

"That’s what I want," Bahamondes said. "I think after beating [Saint-Denis] in France, and winning, I can ask for whatever I want, or at least something that gets me closer to the belt. So it would be an interesting fight for me and my team."

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