UFC CEO Dana White expects Islam Makhachev to fight soon, but not as soon as some might be hoping for.
Makhachev’s manager Ali Abdelaziz recently told TMZ that the UFC welterweight champion has a title defense in the works for July; however, White was quick to shoot down that claim, responding to an Instagram post by FREAK MMA, writing, “Not true. It’s August.”
Should the August date be accurate, that would place Makhachev’s first welterweight title defense on a yet-to-be-announced UFC 330 card as opposed to UFC 329, which is rumored to be taking place on July 11 as part of this year’s International Fight Week.
According to Abdelaziz and White, Makhachev has been sidelined with a hand injury, which also prevented him from being part of the historic UFC White House event on June 14, headlined by Makhachev’s rival Ilia Topuria. The lightweight champion has frequently called for a superfight with Makhachev, including when Topuria held gold at 145 pounds and Makhachev at 155 pounds, but White claims a bout between the two was never in consideration for the White House card. Topuria instead meets interim champion Justin Gaethje in a lightweight title unification bout in June.
Who Makhachev will fight remains a mystery. Top contender Ian Machado Garry has been constantly campaigning for his shot at Makhachev, and the undefeated Michael Morales and former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman also remain in the mix.
