Overview
- UFC chief Dana White said Makhachev is being lined up for August, pushing back on talk of a July defense.
- Manager Ali Abdelaziz told TMZ a day earlier that a July fight against the welterweight division’s top contender was a done deal pending a UFC announcement.
- Abdelaziz said brief talks for a June superfight with lightweight champion Ilia Topuria ended before Makhachev was even contacted.
- Topuria is booked to unify the lightweight title against interim champ Justin Gaethje on June 14 at the White House event, which removes him from a June bout at welterweight.
- White previously cited a hand injury for Makhachev, while new training clips and manager comments point to a summer return with the UFC yet to confirm an opponent.