Islam Makhachev continues to hint at a return to the octagon in July, though no specific opponent or event has been named. Dustin Poirier commented on Conor McGregor's possible comeback, saying it's not about him and wishing McGregor the worst. Arman Tsarukyan's next fight in RAF will earn him at least a three-percent ownership stake in the promotion. Dana White shared a photo from the construction site of a UFC event venue at the White House. Additional notes mention new sparring footage between Brendan Allen and Khamzat Chimaev surfaced, and that Carlos Ulberg has begun knee rehabilitation.
Islam Makhachev has been publicly hinting at an octagon return sometime in July, though no opponent, event, or official announcement has accompanied those signals. Separately, lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan is set to earn at least a three-percent ownership stake in the RAF promotion through his next fight there, and Carlos Ulberg has begun knee rehabilitation following an injury.
Makhachev, 34, enters this stretch of speculation as arguably the sport's most dominant champion. The Russian southpaw carries a 28-1 record and holds the number-one pound-for-pound ranking, with a striking accuracy of 58 percent and a takedown rate of 3.2 per 15 minutes that few fighters at any weight class can match. Currently competing at welterweight, a July return would mark a significant moment in the division's calendar.
Dustin Poirier, 37, also surfaced in the news cycle this week, offering pointed comments on the subject of Conor McGregor's potential comeback. Poirier made clear the situation has nothing to do with him personally and paraphrased his sentiment as wishing McGregor the worst. The Louisiana-born American Top Team product holds a 30-10 record, lands 5.24 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy, and remains one of the more active submission threats in his division with 1.2 attempts per 15 minutes.
New sparring footage also emerged featuring middleweight contender Brendan Allen alongside Khamzat Chimaev. Allen, ranked fifth at 185 pounds, is 30 years old and holds a 26-7 record. The six-foot-two Kill Cliff FC product lands 3.59 significant strikes per minute and averages 1.56 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the more well-rounded fighters in a loaded middleweight division.
Why it matters
- A confirmed Makhachev return in July would be one of the year's marquee events, with championship implications at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings
- Tsarukyan's equity stake in RAF signals a growing trend of fighters securing ownership in emerging promotions
- Allen and Chimaev sharing sparring footage raises natural questions about a potential future matchup in a stacked middleweight division
