Dana White has seemingly confirmed Islam Makhachev’s return to the Octagon, after labelling one reported date “not true”.
Makhachev last fought in November, dominating Jack Della Maddalena to win the UFC welterweight title, and fans have been waiting to hear when and where the Russian’s first title defence will come – and against whom.
The answer to at least one of those questions has seemingly been provided by UFC president White, who ruled out July as a return date for Makhachev, despite a claim by the champion’s manager.
Ali Abdelaziz had appeared to suggest to TMZ that Makhachev would return in July, which would have put him on UFC 330 on 11 July – when Conor McGregor is believed to be making a comeback.
But White responded to a report about Abdelaziz’s words, writing in an Instagram comment: “Not true........ It’s August.”
White said in March: “I don’t know [when Makhachev will return]; he’s got some hand issues, I know that. I don’t know how serious the hand issues are or how long that will keep him out, but yeah, he’s injured.”
And Abdelaziz, in his interview with TMZ, seemed to confirm that Makhachev had been dealing with some kind of issue in recent weeks.
However, Makhachev will seemingly be fit to headline UFC 331 in August, the location for which is yet to be confirmed, as fans speculate on who will challenge the 34-year-old for his belt.
Ireland’s Ian Machado Garry, ranked No 2 at 170lb, appears a strong contender, while former champion Kamaru Usman, ranked seventh, is managed by Abdelaziz; although many fans see Usman as an undeserving challenger at this time, they have noted the link between Usman and Makhachev, and how easy it would be to make that fight.
Della Maddalena is now ranked No 1 but was never likely to get an instant rematch, given the nature of his loss to Makhachev, and he is due to face No 5 Carlos Prates in May.
Fourth-ranked Belal Muhammad, another ex-champion managed by Abdelaziz, is booked to fight No 10 Gabriel Bonfim in May, which leaves No 3 Michael Morales and Machado Garry as the only viable challengers in the top five.
This week, Machado Garry questioned the legitimacy of Makhachev’s hand injury, sharing footage of the Russian punching a heavy bag and writing: “WTF [what the f***?]. Hand injury. Or time wasting?”
It is possible, however, that Makhachev was close to overcoming an injury at the time of White’s comments, and that he is now fit enough to resume training.
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