Champions rarely stay still for long, and Islam Makhachev has been quiet since UFC 322, where he surrendered a lightweight belt to climb a division and take the welterweight crown from Jack Della Maddalena. Now the wait for his return has found a tentative shape, offered first by his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, who says a July comeback is being finalized after a hand injury kept the champion out of the cage. The timeline sits in the quiet space between a stacked summer card and the next challenger, and the divisional story will be written in the months before that August defense.
Dana White Gives Update on Islam Makhachev's Return After UFC 322 Welterweight Title Win
A timeline took shape, though it came from his manager
Mark
So what actually changed this week for Makhachev?
Mimi
A timeline took shape. His manager, Ali Abdelaziz, told TMZ Sports they're closing in on a July return, with a first welterweight title defense in August.
Mark
Why does that matter beyond the date itself?
Mimi
He's been out with a hand injury since winning the belt at UFC 322. Fans have been waiting for any word on when he's back.
Luke
Worth flagging that the July claim comes from his manager. That's not a signed bout or an announced card.
Mark
Fair. And White's role in this?
Mimi
The headline says White gave an update, but the reporting leans on Abdelaziz's comments. What White said in detail isn't spelled out here.
Luke
Right, so I'd treat the plan as targeted, not confirmed.
Mark
What about the White House card on June 14?
Mimi
"Freedom Fights 250" has two title bouts so far, and Makhachev isn't part of it under this plan. Some fans who were sold on it as the most stacked card ever may notice that.
Luke
Though how fans will react is speculation. The source only says it may raise questions.
Mark
And who's next in line?
Mimi
Della Maddalena is number one behind him and fights Carlos Prates on May 2 in Perth. Prates is ranked fifth and has two straight knockouts.
Luke
A win for Prates could put him in line, but nothing guarantees the title shot goes to the winner.
O Pulso
- Makhachev's hand injury has frozen the welterweight picture, and fans are left waiting on a champion who has not fought since UFC 322.
- A July return reported by manager Ali Abdelaziz would leave the June 14 White House card without its biggest name, unsettling expectations of a historic night.
- Della Maddalena, now ranked number one, must first get past Carlos Prates in his home country on May 2 to strengthen his claim to a title shot.
- Prates arrives on back-to-back knockouts, and a win in Perth could make him the next name in line for the most dominant streak in the division.
Champions rarely stay still for long, and Islam Makhachev has been quiet since UFC 322, where he surrendered a lightweight belt to climb a division and take the welterweight crown from Jack Della Maddalena. Now the wait for his return has found a tentative shape, offered first by his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, who says a July comeback is being finalized after a hand injury kept the champion out of the cage. The timeline sits in the quiet space between a stacked summer card and the next challenger, and the divisional story will be written in the months before that August defense.
Islam Makhachev has not fought since UFC 322, and the question of when he will return has hung over the welterweight division ever since. This week brought a partial answer, though it came from his manager rather than the champion himself. Ali Abdelaziz told TMZ Sports that the camp was closing in on a July return, and UFC CEO Dana White has offered his own update on the timeline, though the exact words available are thin, so the plan rests largely on Abdelaziz's account.
The wait follows a hand injury that has kept Makhachev sidelined. He arrives with a 16-fight win streak and two divisional titles, having given up the lightweight belt to move up and beat Della Maddalena at UFC 322. A July comeback with an August title defense would leave him off the June 14 White House card, a fact that may disappoint fans who expected it to be the most stacked event in UFC history.
The next question is who earns the first shot at ending his run. Della Maddalena, the former champion, sits at number one behind Makhachev and first faces Carlos Prates in a UFC Perth main event on May 2. Prates, the number five contender, comes off back-to-back knockouts, and a win in his opponent's home country could put him in line for a title shot. The result in Perth will go a long way toward deciding who stands across from Makhachev when he returns.
Islam Makhachev has not fought since UFC 322, and the question of when he will return has hung over the welterweight division ever since. This week, there was a partial answer, though it came from his manager and not from the champion himself.
Speaking to TMZ Sports, Ali Abdelaziz said his camp was closing in on finalizing a July return for the UFC's reigning welterweight champion. UFC CEO Dana White has since offered his own update on the timeline. The source text is thin on White's exact words, so the plan as reported rests largely on Abdelaziz's account.
The wait follows a hand injury that has kept Makhachev out of action. Fans have been asking for news on it, and so far the clearest signal is the manager's claim that a date is nearly settled.
Makhachev arrives at this point with a 16-fight win streak, one that stretches back to his third UFC fight. At UFC 322 he gave up the promotion's lightweight belt and moved up a division to take on Jack Della Maddalena, then the welterweight titleholder. He beat him, and became a two-division champion.
The timeline raises a wrinkle for the summer schedule. The reporting points to a July return, with Makhachev's first welterweight title defense landing in August. That may prompt questions from fans who were promised that the summer's White House card would be the most stacked event in UFC history. The card, called "Freedom Fights 250," is set for June 14 and currently has two title fights at the top of the bill. Makhachev, by the current plan, would not be on it.
If August holds, the next question is who gets the first shot at ending his streak. Della Maddalena, the former champion, currently sits at number one in the rankings behind Makhachev. He has a fight of his own first: a UFC Perth main event on May 2 against Carlos Prates, the number five contender.
Prates comes in off back-to-back knockouts. A win over Della Maddalena, who is Australian and fighting in his home country, could put him in line for a title shot. The welterweight division has no shortage of contenders, and that fight is the nearest event likely to sharpen the picture.
Watch May 2 in Perth. The result will go a long way toward deciding who stands across from Makhachev when he comes back.
Citações Notáveis
His camp is closing in on finalizing a July return for Makhachev.— Ali Abdelaziz, Makhachev's manager, to TMZ Sports (paraphrased)
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