Dustin Poirier responded negatively to questions about a potential Conor McGregor return, stating it's not about him and wishing McGregor the worst. Dana White shared photos from the construction of the cage for an upcoming UFC event at the White House. Islam Makhachev continued hinting at a July return through social media posts. New sparring footage emerged between Brendan Allen and Khamzat Chimaev. Carlos Ulberg has begun rehabilitation work on his knee injury. Arman Tsarukyan's next RAF fight will earn him a minimum three percent ownership stake in the company.
Dustin Poirier made clear on Wednesday that he has no interest in a potential Conor McGregor comeback, while UFC president Dana White offered a glimpse of cage construction already underway for an upcoming event at the White House.
Poirier, 37, was blunt when asked about McGregor's possible return to the octagon, saying the situation is not about him and going as far as wishing McGregor the worst. The Louisiana-born southpaw fights out of American Top Team and carries a 30-10-0 professional record. Standing five-foot-nine with a 72-inch reach, Poirier is one of the most active strikers in the sport, landing 5.24 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy across his career.
Elsewhere, lightweight and welterweight champion Islam Makhachev continued to drop hints on social media suggesting a July return to competition. The 34-year-old Russian, who trains with Eagles MMA, holds a 28-1-0 record and sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings. Makhachev is a relentless pressure fighter, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a 58 percent striking accuracy rate.
Sparring footage also surfaced Wednesday featuring middleweight contender Brendan Allen working alongside Khamzat Chimaev. Allen, ranked fifth in the middleweight division, is 30 years old and holds a 26-7-0 record. The six-foot-two Orthodox fighter out of Kill Cliff FC averages 3.59 significant strikes per minute and attempts 1.1 submissions per 15 minutes, making him a well-rounded threat in the 185-pound class.
Why it matters
- Poirier's pointed remarks add tension to any future McGregor comeback storyline in the lightweight division
- Makhachev's July hints could shape the lightweight and welterweight title picture heading into summer
- Allen and Chimaev sharing the gym signals a possible camp connection with implications for the middleweight top five
- Carlos Ulberg's ongoing knee rehabilitation and Arman Tsarukyan securing a minimum three percent RAF ownership stake from his next fight add further movement across the roster
