The date for Islam
Makhachev’s next title defense remains uncertain due to a hand
injury.
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Makhachev is coming off a fifth-round submission win over Dustin
Poirier at UFC 303
this past June. While most lingering effects from the fight against
Poirer gradually wore off, Machachev’s right hand continued to
bother him. An MRI scan revealed that he had partially torn a
ligament in his hand, which is currently in a cast.
Makhachev is scheduled to remove his cast in a couple of weeks and
another subsequent MRI will tell how to proceed with the injury.
Makhachev recently said that a potential defense at UFC 308
in October in Abu Dhabi seems doubtful, which was confirmed by the
announcement that Ilia
Topuria will face Max
Holloway in the event’s headliner. However, the lightweight
champ hopes to defend his strap again by the end of 2024.
“I just waiting what my doctor say. After 10 days I remove this
thing and we will see what he say,” Makhachev told ESPN. “We have to do one more time the MRI and I just
waiting for the result… I cut half ligament from the last fight.
And I [did not] check that [initially]. After the fight I have lot
of things bother me but everything is finished but the hand still
bother me. And after that I make the MRI and doctor say, ‘You have
the small cut.’ I don’t know [if it will need surgery]. After 10
days or two weeks we will see what the doctor say… I hope end of
the year I defend my belt.”
Makhachev’s injury also sidelined him from the training camp for
teammate Umar
Nurmagomedov’s upcoming main event clash against Cory
Sandhagen, which goes down in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Makhachev
was present to observe the undefeated bantamweight contender, and
he came away impressed with Nurmagomedov’s work.
“Honestly I know Umar have good skills, grappling and wrestling,
striking skills,” Makhachev said. “And I just want to watch his
shape. If he in shape and he don’t have injury, I know he will show
us good performance. And it’s what I see last Friday. It was his
last sparring and he looked great.”