UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is set to face Arman Tsarukyan next for his belt, but he may now have other ideas as a super-fight prospect emerges.
The dominant Dagestani is set to break the record for most lightweight title defences in the UFC should he win his next fight. And that has been due to be Tsarukyan, whom he already defeated back in 2019 at a Fight Night in Russia.
But after suffering an injury during his latest defence against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 in New Jersey, it appears that he may be out for an extended period of time. And in the meantime, he is keen to name a more exciting contender, teasing a potential fight with BMF champion Max Holloway.
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Islam Makhachev faces surgery after injury at UFC 302
During his last world title defence, Islam Makhachev seems to have suffered a serious injury to his hand, which will likely cost him an historic night in the Middle East at UFC 308. He had been tentatively due to face Arman Tsarukyan at that Abu Dhabi pay-per-view in a major rematch.
But now he could be set for surgery, telling Ushatayka in Russian: “After the fight, my fists hurt, a lot of things hurt. We’ll take time. Everything is healing little by little. But my hand continues 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.” Asked about the possibility of competing at UFC 308, he replied: “It is questionable. We haven’t talked about the fight yet. I am doing rehabilitation every day now. And we’ll see how the hand goes.”
Islam Makhachev keen to fight Max Holloway instead of Arman Tsarukyan in next fight
Despite Tsarukyan seeming to earn his spot as the top contender for the title, Makhachev appears to have named a new contender. It seems that Max Holloway is set to face Ilia Topuria for the featherweight world title, after winning the BMF belt from Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.
And Makhachev reckons that if he reclaims featherweight gold, Holloway could end up overtaking Tsarukyan in the meantime in an effort to become two-division champion. During a fan Q&A in Abu Dhabi, Makhachev was asked about the potential bout, and replied “Why not?”
“I already beat Arman,” he explained further. “If UFC puts him next, that’s no problem. But, I’m not excited much. I need new name, new challenger, I already beat Arman. If Max wants, let’s do it. I don’t need his [BMF] belt, but Max is a good name. It’s going to be a crazy fight for the fans.”
Arman Tsarukyan could face Dustin Poirier in interim title fight
Should Makhachev require surgery and be out of action for the foreseeable future, it’s possible the UFC would need to install an interim champion. And while Tsarukyan would be nailed on as a certainty, a surprising new addition could be made.
Speaking with MMA Junkie, Dustin Poirier made his case for the potential matchup, which would once again take him into the discussion for his long-time goal of winning undisputed gold. “I’m supposed to have surgery on my nose in October,” he began.
“But like, if I’ve made a decision or something popped up I could push it back or whatever. I’m just thinking, who is there for me to fight, but I’ve just got to do the 30 days, get in shape and get back on the mats hard, I haven’t been able to grapple.
“I could fight at the end of the year. If I felt good after the 30 days and there’s a big opportunity. The names, obviously the opponent matters big time but, where the timing and the position on the card and stuff like that, those come into play as well.”
And when the topic of Makhachev’s injury came up, he added: “I wonder what they’re gonna do with that, is Arman gonna continue to wait for Islam, I don’t know when Islam’s gonna be back but I saw a thing that said he might have to have surgery.
“So we’ll see, man. The lightweight division has been so crazy over these past years. Yeah for sure [an interim title fight] interests me.”
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