Islam Makhachev confirmed he has begun training camp for his next fight and stated that his opponent has been verbally confirmed. The post asks whether it will be Ian Garry or suggests there may be other options under consideration. Details about the specific event, date, or formal contract signing were not provided in the brief announcement. The confirmation suggests Makhachev is moving forward with fight preparations despite no official UFC announcement yet.
Islam Makhachev has reportedly begun training camp for his next title defense and says an opponent has been verbally agreed upon, though no official UFC announcement has been made to confirm the booking.
The reigning welterweight champion, ranked pound-for-pound No. 1, posted the update publicly, with speculation swirling around whether Ian Garry or another contender will be named as his opponent. Because no formal contract has been signed and the UFC has yet to confirm the fight, the situation remains unverified at this stage.
Makhachev, 34, carries a 28-1-0 record and trains out of Eagles MMA in Russia. Standing five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach, the southpaw champion is one of the most complete fighters in the sport. He lands 2.63 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 58 percent accuracy, while also generating 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and averaging 1.1 submission attempts in the same span — a combination that has made him a nightmare across all phases of combat.
Why it matters
- Makhachev entering camp signals a title defense could be close, even without an official announcement
- The identity of the opponent remains unclear, with Ian Garry floated as one possibility but not confirmed
- Any challenger stepping in will face the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, raising the stakes for the entire welterweight division
- A verbal agreement without a signed contract means the matchup could still shift before anything is made official
