UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev seemingly has a number of options for his next fight, yet nothing seems to be a lock.
Makhachev (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) hasn’t competed since February, when he earned a unanimous decision win over featherweight titleholder Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284 in Australia. He’s expected to return to action Oct. 21 at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, but no opponent has been confirmed at this time.
Just a few weeks ago, the obvious choice appeared to be a rematch with Charles Oliveira, whom Makhachev took the 155-pound belt from by submission at UFC 280 last October. “Do Bronx” put himself in position to run it back with a brilliant finish of Beneil Dariush in June, but then Oliveira (34-9 MMA, 22-9 UFC) recently revealed he would not be ready to fight Makhachev three months from now.
