Islam Makhachev continues to hint at a return to the octagon in July, though no official announcement has been made. Dustin Poirier dismissed questions about a potential Conor McGregor comeback, stating he wishes McGregor nothing but the worst. UFC President Dana White shared a photo from the construction site of the White House event venue. New sparring footage emerged between Brendan Allen and Khamzat Chimaev in the UAE. Arman Tsarukyan's next RAF fight will reportedly earn him at least a three percent ownership stake in the promotion.
Islam Makhachev has been dropping hints about a potential July return to competition, though the UFC lightweight and pound-for-pound number-one champion has yet to make any official announcement confirming a booking.
Makhachev, 34, carries a record of 28-1-0 and holds the lightweight title while sitting atop the pound-for-pound rankings. The Russian southpaw out of Eagles MMA lands takedowns at a rate of 3.2 per 15 minutes and connects on 58 percent of his significant strikes, making him one of the most well-rounded champions on the roster. Any return would draw immediate attention given his status at the summit of the sport.
Elsewhere, Dustin Poirier addressed the possibility of Conor McGregor making a comeback to active competition. The 37-year-old American, who competes out of American Top Team, made clear he has no goodwill toward his longtime rival, reportedly stating he wishes McGregor nothing but the worst. Poirier owns a 30-10-0 record and has long been one of the division's most dangerous finishers, averaging 5.24 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy.
In other news, UFC President Dana White posted a photo from the construction site of a planned event venue connected to the White House, and sparring footage surfaced of Brendan Allen working alongside Khamzat Chimaev in the UAE. Allen, ranked fifth at middleweight with a 26-7-0 record, is 30 years old and fights out of Kill Cliff FC, standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach. Finally, it is being reported — though not officially confirmed — that Arman Tsarukyan's next fight under the Rapid Aggressive Fighting banner will come with an ownership stake in the promotion of at least three percent.
Why it matters
- Makhachev's rumored July timeline would set up one of the year's highest-profile lightweight title fights if confirmed
- Poirier's public comments on McGregor suggest any potential matchup between the two remains deeply personal
- Allen and Chimaev sharing sparring time in the UAE raises questions about preparation and potential future matchmaking at middleweight
