π¨ Dana White calls out Islam Makhachev for not being ready to fight in January! π The UFC CEO expressed frustration with the welterweight champion's inactivity after Islam reportedly decided to wait until after Ramadan for his next fight.
UFC CEO Dana White has reportedly voiced frustration with welterweight champion Islam Makhachev over the champion's apparent unwillingness to fight in January. The report, which is not officially confirmed, says Makhachev has decided to wait until after Ramadan before making his next walk to the cage.
White's criticism centers on inactivity, according to the report. A January date would have kept the champion on a relatively short turnaround, but the reported decision to hold off until Ramadan has pushed any return further down the calendar.
Makhachev's recent run
Makhachev, a 34-year-old Russian who trains with Eagles MMA, holds a 29-1 record and the welterweight title. His most recent recorded fight came on August 15, 2026, at UFC 330, where he beat Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision over five rounds in a title fight.
That win followed another five-round unanimous decision, over Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 on November 15, 2025. Before that, he submitted Renato Moicano in the first round at UFC 311 in January 2025. All three recorded bouts were title fights, and all three ended in victory.
The southpaw lands 2.27 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. His grappling remains the foundation of his game: he averages 3.22 takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.9 submission attempts over the same span. He stands five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach.
Why it matters
- A delay until after Ramadan would leave the welterweight title without a scheduled defense in early 2026-27 planning, which could hold up contenders waiting for a shot.
- If the UFC wants a champion active on a regular cycle, a gap of several months from his August 15 title defense would stretch the usual rhythm for a titleholder.
- Public criticism from White is notable given that Makhachev has fought three title bouts in the span covered by his recent recorded fights.
Neither the UFC nor Makhachev's camp has confirmed the reported timeline or the substance of White's comments. The report frames the dispute as a scheduling disagreement rather than anything involving injury or contract status, and no replacement opponent or alternative date has been mentioned.
