Islam Makhachev has continued to hint at a potential return to competition in July. The UFC lightweight champion has been posting suggestions on social media that indicate he is targeting a summer comeback. Additional news from the MMA world includes Dustin Poirier commenting on Conor McGregor's potential return, Dana White sharing construction photos from the White House event venue, and new sparring footage emerging between Arnold Allen and Khamzat Chimaev. Arman Tsarukyan's next fight with RAF will reportedly earn him at least a three percent stake in the company. Details remain limited on Makhachev's specific opponent or event.
Islam Makhachev has been dropping hints on social media that he is eyeing a return to competition in July, though no official booking has been confirmed and details on a specific opponent or event remain absent.
Makhachev, 34, holds a 28-1-0 record and is the reigning UFC lightweight champion, currently ranked at the top of the pound-for-pound standings. The Russian fighter, who trains out of Eagles MMA, is a relentless pressure wrestler averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and connecting on 58 percent of his significant strikes — among the highest accuracy figures in the division. A summer return would mark his next step in what has been a dominant run atop the 155-pound weight class.
The wider news cycle also touched on Dustin Poirier, who offered commentary on Conor McGregor's potential return to the octagon. Poirier, a 37-year-old southpaw out of American Top Team, carries a 30-10-0 record and remains one of the most active strikers in the lightweight picture, landing 5.24 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy. No details were provided on the substance of his remarks beyond the McGregor topic.
Separately, sparring footage featuring featherweight contender Arnold Allen alongside Khamzat Chimaev has surfaced. Allen, ranked fifth in the featherweight division, is 32 years old and holds a 21-4-0 record. The England-born Tristar Gym product averages 3.52 significant strikes per minute and blends his striking with a steady takedown rate of 1.24 per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- A Makhachev July return would set the tone for the lightweight division's second half of 2026
- No opponent is confirmed, leaving the divisional picture unsettled
- Allen and Chimaev sharing sparring time raises questions about potential crossover preparation between featherweight and middleweight camps
