“A couple of months ago I was in America, met with the leadership,” Makhachev said. “I asked for a fight in the summer, and they said that if I fight in the summer, then I won’t have time to fight in Abu Dhabi. They already had a plan for me to fight in Abu Dhabi.”
Ten days ago, UFC President Dana White, answering a question about organizing a rematch between Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira, said that the return of the Russian would depend on the success of the treatment that he allegedly is currently undergoing.
In addition to the Brazilian, the winner of the fight between Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier, who will head the UFC 291 tournament in Salt Lake City on July 29, as well as the current UFC Featherweight Champion, Alex Volkanovski, who is waiting for a unification fight with Yair Rodriguez, are claiming a fight with Makhachev.
According to available information, Islam Makhachev should hold another title defense on October 21 at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi.