Islam Makhachev

RAF co-founder Eric Bischoff has expressed interest in booking Islam Makhachev against Umar Nurmagomedov at a tournament in Moscow in 2027. The promotion is holding its next event in Moscow on September 5, headlined by Khamzat Chimaev versus Tyron Woodley.

Nurmagomedov, Chimaev, Woodley

🥊 КТО СЛЕДУЮЩИЙ ДЛЯ ИСЛАМА МАХАЧЕВА? После очередной победы Ислама главный вопрос теперь — кто станет его следующим соперником? 👀 В списке потенциальных претендентов — Шон Стрикленд, Майкл Моралес и Карлос Пратес. Кого выбираете для следующего боя Ислама? 🔥 @miichaelufc | @thenightmare_170 | @stricklandmma #seanstrickland #carlosprates #michaelmorales #ufc #islammakhachev

Strickland, Prates, Morales

Carlos Prates has signaled his desire to fight Islam Makhachev on November 14 at UFC 334 in New York. The callout puts Prates in contention for a high-profile lightweight matchup at one of the year's marquee events.

Prates

Usman Nurmagomedov has revealed that his team submitted a contract request to PFL/MVP worth more than $2 million per fight, with negotiations still ongoing and a 90-day window yet to expire. The undefeated lightweight champion said the process is being handled by his representative Ali Abdelaziz and that he is waiting to hear PFL's vision for his future. Nurmagomedov also pushed back on Arman Tsarukyan's suggestion that he would lose if he moved to the UFC, noting that Tsarukyan himself lost his UFC debut to Islam Makhachev.

Tsarukyan, Nurmagomedov

Alexander Volkanovski says he is not concerned about Movsar Evloev's grappling game and insists he will keep the fight standing. Volkanovski acknowledges that Evloev could take him down but flatly denies that Evloev will be able to hold him there. He pointed to his previous outing against Islam Makhachev as evidence that he can handle elite-level wrestlers.

Evloev, Volkanovski

Islam Makhachev has stated he wants to compete in three more fights before ending his career, describing the upcoming bouts as interesting and difficult. The planned opponents include Moraes, Prates, and potentially Shavkat Rakhmonov.

Rakhmonov