After an eight-month layoff, Islam Makhachev returned for the UFC 302 PPV. He fought a bloody war against former interim champion Dustin Poirier. His grappling savviness helped him score a fight-ending submission in the fifth and final round. With another 155-pound title defense in the books, Makhachev will meet Arman Tsarukyan next. However, thereโs grim news on that front.
Islam Makhachevโs much-anticipated return to the octagon is on hold. AKA coach Javier Mendez has confirmed that the champ will not be in active competition this year. The โDagestani Destroyerโ was originally to defend his strap on the UFC 308 card in Abu Dhabi this October. However, Makhachev is nursing a torn ligament in his hand, having outboxed Poirier.
The Armenian UFC star won his lightweight title shot after getting past Charles Oliveira at UFC 300. This would also mark a rematch between the two men as top contender Arman Tsarukyan fought a hard-fought first encounter five years ago. This is a matchup for which fans and pundits have been clamoring. Unfortunately, Mendez has now dashed those hopes, making Makhachevโs injury more and more serious.
๐จ| Islam Makhachevโs head coach Javier Mendez has told Russian outlet Ushatayka that the fight with Arman Tsarukyan will not happen in December as Makhachev is yet to return to training after suffering a hand injury.
He expects the rematch to happen in early 2025 instead. pic.twitter.com/3XKVfJxYgF
โ MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) September 6, 2024
The coach has told the Russian media outlet โUshataykaโ (ะฃัะฐัะฐะนะบะฐ/@ushatayka_tm)ย that he expects the matchup to happen next year. The Dagestani standout and #1 contender, Arman Tsarukyan, are both on timeouts. This is only if Tsarukyan refuses to fight for the interim championship.
The Armenian fighter is serving a NAC-imposed nine-month suspension and $25,000ย in fines for a pre-fight incident. The suspension ends soon, and he can compete for an interim belt if he chooses to. The injury struggles of Makhachev remains certainly concerning as he hoped to end by the yearโs end.
Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan stalled! Any other potential matchups in the time being?
Islam Makhachev looks set to defend his UFC gold against Arman Tsarukyan. However, the No. 1 pound-for-pound is not on a clean bill of health to do that yet. In the meantime, the 27-year-old has called for interim title contention. The gap is due to a lingering hand injury stemming from a fight, not Makhachev ducking out. As a matter of fact, he has plenty of title options open.
Paddy Pimblett plans to give UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev a run for his money. Unbeaten in the UFC, Pimblett is now in the top 15 listings after UFC 304. Makhachev even lauded his finish over King Green. Although a few matches away from title contention, โThe Baddyโ means to work his way up. Names like Renato Moicano, Dan Hooker, and Beneil Dariush are also in the fold.
Islam Makhachevย and Arman Tsarukyan (via Imago)Dan Hooker is Top 5 and has a three-fight winning streak. The UFC can put him in an interim title bout if they deem Dustin Poirier and Charles Oliveira ineligible for an interim title bout. After all, Poirier and Oliveira are coming off a loss, and a title fight might not make sense. Nevertheless, the UFC has given title fights to fighters who have come off a loss.
Jose Aldo received it for his bantamweight title shot in 2020. Jorge Masvidal received it after losing his first fight against Kamaru Usman. As such, Hooker, Poirier, and Oliveira are potential candidates to book an interim title fight against Tsarukyan if Makhachev needs a long time to recover. Regardless of what happens next, all fights are exciting for the fans.
