Islam Makhachev continues to hint at a return to the octagon in July. Dustin Poirier commented on Conor McGregor's possible comeback, saying he wishes him the worst and it's not about him. Dana White shared a photo from the construction site of the venue for the White House event. New sparring footage emerged between Brendan Allen and Khamzat Chimaev. Arman Tsarukyan's next fight in RAF will earn him at least a three percent stake in the company.
Islam Makhachev has continued to drop hints about a July return to competition, while Dustin Poirier made his feelings clear on a potential Conor McGregor comeback, telling reporters he wishes McGregor the worst and that the situation has nothing to do with him.
Makhachev, 34, holds a 28-1-0 record and currently sits atop both the welterweight division and the pound-for-pound rankings. The Russian fighter, who trains out of Eagles MMA, is one of the most efficient grapplers in the sport, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and connecting on 58 percent of his significant strikes. Any July return would mark a highly anticipated step back into the octagon for the reigning champion.
Poirier, the 37-year-old southpaw from the United States who trains at American Top Team, carries a 30-10-0 record and has long been one of the lightweight division's most dangerous finishers. He lands 5.24 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy and averages 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes, reflecting his well-rounded offensive repertoire. His blunt comments on McGregor's rumored return signal no love lost between the two.
Elsewhere, sparring footage surfaced featuring middleweight contender Brendan Allen and Khamzat Chimaev. Allen, ranked fifth in the middleweight division, is a 30-year-old orthodox fighter out of Kill Cliff FC standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. He averages 3.59 significant strikes per minute and 1.56 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a versatile threat in any session.
Why it matters
- Makhachev's July timeline, if confirmed, would set the welterweight division's schedule for the summer
- Poirier's McGregor remarks add friction to an already complicated potential comeback story
- Allen and Chimaev sparring footage raises questions about a possible future middleweight matchup between the two
Dana White also shared construction imagery from the venue set to host the upcoming White House event, while Arman Tsarukyan's next bout under the RAF banner will earn him a minimum three-percent ownership stake in the organization.
