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Islam Makhachev

All articles tagged with #islam makhachev

Topuria’s Camp says Islam Makhachev was never option for UFC White House; Gaethje was the chosen fight
sports2 days ago

Topuria’s Camp says Islam Makhachev was never option for UFC White House; Gaethje was the chosen fight

Ilia Topuria’s manager Malki Kawa says Islam Makhachev was never an actual option for the UFC White House card; negotiations ultimately centered on a Gaethje fight after Makhachev was sidelined by an injury, with Topuria still eyeing a future showdown with Makhachev and ongoing talks about pay and terms.

Makhachev’s team shuts down Topuria superfight; summer welterweight title defense already lined up
sports17 days ago

Makhachev’s team shuts down Topuria superfight; summer welterweight title defense already lined up

Islam Makhachev’s manager says a potential champ-champ bout with Ilia Topuria never got close, as the UFC shifted toward a summer welterweight title defense while Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje for the lightweight unification is set for June 14. There was talk of stripping Topuria to crown an undisputed 170-pound champ with Gaethje vs. Arman Tsarukyan if the Topuria fight didn’t happen, and the UFC is expected to announce the actual challenger for Makhachev’s 170-pound title in mid-2026, with names like Ian Garry, Michael Morales, or Kamaru Usman floated.

Poirier: Makhachev’s size overwhelmed him at UFC 302; Makhachev disputes the weight claim
sports24 days ago

Poirier: Makhachev’s size overwhelmed him at UFC 302; Makhachev disputes the weight claim

Poirier said Islam Makhachev looked enormous across the octagon at UFC 302, estimating Makhachev at about 190–192 pounds while he fought at roughly 176. Makhachev replied via Telegram that he has never weighed more than 176 pounds. Poirier lost to Makhachev by a fifth‑round brabo choke and described the choke’s unique mechanics, while noting Makhachev later moved up to welterweight and dominated Jack Della Maddalena to win that championship, highlighting the size and strength edge Poirier faced that night.

Topuria Fires Back at Makhachev Over White House Absence
sports1 month ago

Topuria Fires Back at Makhachev Over White House Absence

Ilia Topuria blasted Islam Makhachev for missing a potential superfight and not appearing at the UFC White House event, claiming Makhachev cited an injury; Makhachev replied after Topuria’s posts, and Dana White said neither fighter was guaranteed to headline. Makhachev holds the 170-pound belt after beating Della Maddalena, while Topuria remains focused on a future title run and is set to face Gaethje on June 14.

Topuria’s White House fight nearly collapsed over pay before late deal kept him on the card
sports1 month ago

Topuria’s White House fight nearly collapsed over pay before late deal kept him on the card

Topuria’s manager says early talks to include him on the UFC White House card stalled after a low offer; after late Friday and then Wednesday negotiations, they rejected the initial money and later agreed to face Islam Makhachev (over Gaethje) as pay improved, with White confirming the matchup wasn’t officially finalized at first and Topuria still set to be the last to walk out on June 14.

White denies last-minute Islam Makhachev vs Ilia Topuria on UFC White House card
sports1 month ago

White denies last-minute Islam Makhachev vs Ilia Topuria on UFC White House card

Dana White rejected reports that Islam Makhachev vs Ilia Topuria was the last-minute headliner for the UFC White House show, confirming instead that Ilia Topuria will face Justin Gaethje in a lightweight title unification and noting Makhachev’s hand injury. He also said Topuria wasn’t initially supposed to be on the card and that the late changes stemmed from another issue at Power Slap, with more UFC events expected to be announced soon.

White House card scrambles: Makhachev-Topuria not in plans as Gaethje-Topuria rise to headline
sports1 month ago

White House card scrambles: Makhachev-Topuria not in plans as Gaethje-Topuria rise to headline

Dana White denied reports that Islam Makhachev was slated to fight Ilia Topuria on the UFC White House card, confirming instead that Topuria will headline a lightweight title unification bout with Justin Gaethje. Makhachev is sidelined by a hand injury and Ramadan obligations, while Topuria and Gaethje were late additions after a chaotic build‑up following a Power Slap event; the card is set for June 14 as part of the America 250 celebration.

Garry Teases Welterweight Title Clash With Makhachev, Manager Responds
sports1 month ago

Garry Teases Welterweight Title Clash With Makhachev, Manager Responds

Ian Machado Garry publicly teased a welterweight title showdown with Islam Makhachev after his recent win, saying he’s ready while noting Makhachev might need more time. Makhachev is the reigning champ after defeating Jack Della Maddalena, and Garry sits at 10-1 in the UFC with a two-fight win streak. Makhachev’s manager replied on Twitter, though the article doesn’t detail the reply.

Gaethje Captures Interim Gold in Five‑Round Thriller as Makhachev and Khabib React
sports2 months ago

Gaethje Captures Interim Gold in Five‑Round Thriller as Makhachev and Khabib React

Justin Gaethje defeated Paddy Pimblett in a five‑round UFC 324 war to become the first two‑time interim UFC lightweight champion. Islam Makhachev criticized the main event on X, while Khabib Nurmagomedov congratulated Gaethje, with both in attendance as Umar Nurmagomedov won on the undercard. Gaethje now contemplates a potential title‑unification bout with Ilia Topuria, and hinted retirement could follow that clash.

UFC Stars Eyeing Title Shots and Super Fights Post-UFC 322
sports5 months ago

UFC Stars Eyeing Title Shots and Super Fights Post-UFC 322

Dana White indicated that a superfight between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria is a possibility in the future, with both fighters expressing interest, although they must first navigate their upcoming bouts in their respective weight classes. The fight is highly anticipated and considered one of the biggest in MMA, with Khabib Nurmagomedov also endorsing its significance.