Islam Makhachev last featured in the Octagon back at UFC 322, where he produced a dominant, if perhaps slightly unexciting display against former champion Jack Della Maddalena to claim the 170 lb title.
Makhachev’s hand injury prevented him from appearing at the much-talked about UFC White House card, styled as UFC Freedom 250, where reports came out after the event that he was offered to fight UFC Lightweight Champion Ilia Topuria.
UFC CEO and President Dana White subsequently commented on an Instagram post, some weeks later, that Makhachev was being scheduled for an August return, rather than coming back in July for International Fight Week – the promotion’s second-biggest card of 2026.
However, Makhachev suggested that he may in fact return earlier than expected in an X post on Wednesday.
“July?”, Makhachev wrote on X, accompanied by the phone emoji.
Is Islam Makhachev Set to Fight at International Fight Week?
At present, all signs point to Conor McGregor fighting at International Fight Week – July’s numbered card event – on the 11th of the month.
Indeed just last month leading MMA journalist Ariel Helwani claimed that something “disastrous” would have to happen if McGregor is not fighting on the July 11th card.
At this point, I think it’s safe to say that something disastrous would have had to happen if he’s
“At this point, I think it’s safe to say that something disastrous would have had to happen if he’s not fighting on July 11.” Helwani said on March 23.
Yet, it would also not make much sense for both McGregor and Makhachev to be fighting in July: it would absurd to grant McGregor the next 170 lb title shot after five years away from the sport.
And it would also be surprising to see both McGregor and Makhachev line up in separate bouts on the same card – even for an event as prestigious as International Fight Week, given both of their respective pedigrees and draws as fighters in their own right.
So either something has happened with McGregor, which certainly would not be surprising given his inability to return to fighting for the past five years, or perhaps the UFC have decided they would rather have Makhachev headline the all-important July card.
What Does Makhachev Mean By His Post?
Even then, the post itself does not necessarily imply that it has been decided Islam will be fighting in July. The post has the word “July” juxtaposed with a telephone emoji, both of which are followed by a question mark.
This would suggest that he is asking the promotion whether he can fight at IFW, rather than coming in to announce it to the world. Perhaps the best news for fans of the Dagestani is that this would seem to clarify that his hand is healing quicker than expected, and that he will be ready to go in the coming months.
There is no clear answer to exactly what Makhachev means or is fully implying with his social media posts. But the UFC will likely be releasing the International Fight Week headliner in the next couple of weeks, so we shall find out then.
Islam Makhachev Implies Change of Plan For First 170 LB Title Defense Date