Islam Makhachev continues to hint at a possible return in July, though no official announcement has been made. Dustin Poirier commented on Conor McGregor's potential 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 3% stake in the company as part of his compensation package. New sparring footage emerged showing Brendan Allen and Khamzat Chimaev training together. UFC President Dana White shared photos from the construction site of the planned White House event venue. Carlos Ulberg has begun knee rehabilitation following his recent injury.
Islam Makhachev has been hinting at a possible return to the octagon in July, though the UFC lightweight champion has yet to make any official announcement confirming a date or opponent.
Makhachev, 34, carries a 28-1 record and holds the top pound-for-pound ranking in the sport. Fighting out of Russia under the Eagles MMA banner, the southpaw has built a reputation as one of the most complete fighters in the world, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing strikes at a 58 percent accuracy rate.
Separately, Dustin Poirier weighed in on Conor McGregor's potential comeback, making clear the situation is no concern of his and wishing McGregor, in his words, "the worst." Poirier, 37, fights out of American Top Team and carries a 30-10 record. The southpaw from the United States lands 5.24 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy and adds 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him one of the more well-rounded finishers in the lightweight division.
In other news, Arman Tsarukyan is set to receive at least a 3 percent equity stake in the promotion RAF as part of the compensation package tied to his next fight there. New footage has also surfaced showing middleweight contender Brendan Allen sparring alongside Khamzat Chimaev. Allen, ranked fifth in the middleweight division, holds a 26-7 record and fights out of Kill Cliff FC. The 30-year-old American stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach and posts 3.59 significant strikes landed per minute. Meanwhile, UFC President Dana White shared images from the construction site of a planned event venue connected to the White House, and Carlos Ulberg has entered knee rehabilitation following a recent injury.
Why it matters
- A Makhachev return in July would shape the lightweight title picture heading into the second half of 2026
- Tsarukyan's equity arrangement signals a growing trend of fighters negotiating ownership stakes in promotions
- Allen-Chimaev sparring footage adds intrigue ahead of both men's next divisional assignments in a crowded middleweight landscape
