UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has confirmed that he’s suffered an injury that could complicate his fight plans for 2024.
The king of the 155lb division is in an interesting spot following UFC 304 this weekend, with his friend and teammate Belal Muhammad now holding the exact title that he wants to add to his already impressive collection.
Whilst the underdog win from Muhammad could indeed delay his plan to move up to challenge for a second title, Islam Makhachev has also now revealed that the expected lightweight title fight in October could be in jeopardy.
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Islam Makhachev reveals hand injury complicates his fight plans
Speaking on the Ushatayka YouTube channel, via Championship Rounds, UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev revealed that he has suffered a hand injury that could force him out of his expected title fight in October.
Makhachev had been expected to face Arman Tsarukyan for the 155lb title in the main event of UFC 308, which is scheduled for October 26 in Abu Dhabi.
“After the fight [against Poirier], my fist hurts, a lot of things hurt,” Makhachev stated, explaining that whilst his other post-fight bumps and bruises did start to get better with time, his hand continued to be a source of pain and agitation.
“We’ll take time, everything is healing little by little. But my hand continued to bother me… An MRI recently confirmed that I have a partial ligament tear, let’s see if I can recover – if not, I might even have to have surgery.”
When asked whether the injury and potential surgery could force him out of the October PPV, Makhachev noted that whilst he hasn’t talked to the UFC yet, it remains “questionable” whether it’ll be healed in time for whenever the full training camp is scheduled to begin.
“Well, it is questionable. We haven’t talked [to the UFC] about the fight; I am doing rehabilitation every day now and we’ll see how the hand goes… Well, I really want to perform before the end of the year. I plan to [fight before the end of 2024]. I haven’t even thought about not performing.
“I want to come in shape, prepared so that nothing bothers me. Before the last fight, there were also a lot of minor injuries, everything somehow accumulated. And I want to give my body time to recover, I train, and I keep myself in shape.”
Makhachev also stated that he’s currently forced to train at “About 45-50 percent,” but is still hopeful that the fight against Tsarukyan can come together for the Abu Dhabi PPV card: “Let’s see what happens.”
Arman Tsarukyan claims ‘verbal agreement’ made for UFC title fight
As Islam Makhachev battles a painful hand injury, his consensus next opponent is already in training camp for that expected title fight in October.
Luckily, even if the partial ligament tear forces the UFC to delay the lightweight title fight, Tsarukyan already has a verbal agreement with the promotion that he’ll be next for the Dagestani wrecking ball.
Earlier in the month, the 27-year-old told Sport 24, via Red Corner MMA, that the UFC had confirmed behind closed doors that he’ll get the next title shot, even if Makhachev had made his long-awaited move up to welterweight in the hope of capturing a second belt.
“No, they won’t [make me wait] because we have a verbal agreement that I’m fighting for the title. I don’t know if [Makhachev] was told that, but they told me I’m next in line.
“To be honest, I don’t care if he moves up a weight class, just give me the interim title then, or let him vacate the title… It’s not about fighting Islam; I just need to become the champion.”
Whilst Tsarukyan is undoubtedly one of the best wrestlers in the entire division, his skills still pale in comparison to the grappling credentials of the champion – which is why he’s also hoping to get some all-important training in with undefeated phenom Khamzat Chimaev.
“Khamzat fights well and will test his strength,” Tsarukyan explained in a separate statement to Sport 24: “To be honest, he is there, and if there’s an opportunity to train with him, it would be good.
“Since he is tall and can work in a left-handed stance, I will ask him to train with me. In general, his build is similar to Islam’s [build].”
Fingers crossed that Makhachev’s recovery goes smoothly, and that the UFC lightweight title will be defended against the surging ‘Ahalkalakets’ in front of the Abu Dhabi crowd in October.