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Report – UFC Saudi Arabia debut postponed until June amid links to Islam Makhachev comeback fight

UFC Saudi Arabia postponed until June amid links to Islam Makhachev comeback fight The UFC’s slated debut event in Saudi Arabia – scheduled to take place on March 2. in Riyadh has…

The UFC’s slated debut event in Saudi Arabia – scheduled to take place on March 2. in Riyadh has reportedly been postponed until June later this year, amid links to a comeback fight for Russian favorite and undisputed lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev in the same month.

As per an initial report from Ariel Helwani as per Saudi Royal Court adviser, Turki Alalshikh, the promotion’s expected landing in the Middle East on March 2. will no longer occur on that date – due to a lack of star power on the proposed ‘Fight Night’ billed card, and is now instead targeted to take place in early June.

Ariel Helwani says the #UFCSaudiArabia card, which was scheduled for March 2nd, is being moved to June.#TheMMAHour pic.twitter.com/dsclRDFNUI

— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) January 15, 2024

Currently without a headlining bout tied to the Kingdom Arena card in Riyadh, notable fights currently slated for the event include a flyweight fight between the unbeaten, Muhammad Mokaev and former title challenger, Alex Perez, as well as a heavyweight bout between Jairzinho Rozenstruik, and Shamil Gaziev.

At the time of publication, it’s currently unknown if the current scheduled fights will be rescheduled for the proposed June event in the Middle East, or if they will remain intact and move to a different card promoted by the organization — instead of UFC Saudi Arabia.

UFC Saudi Arabia set for postponement until June

Developments of the UFC Saudi Arabia debut come of the back of recent confirmation from pound-for-pound number one, the above-mentioned, Makhachev, that he would like to compete in June – potentially in a title fight against former interim champion and current symbolic BMF gold holder, Justin Gaethje.

Laying out plans for his next three fights, the American Kickboxing Academy staple confirmed how he plans to fight in June, before then competing in November – in a lightweight title fight rematch against either former foes, Charles Oliveira or Arman Tsarukyan, before fighting “anybody” in February of 2025.

Who do you expect to headline a UFC Saudi Arabia event in June?

Islam Makhachev accused of ducking rematch with UFC foe Charles Oliveira: ‘There’s nowhere to run’

Expected to remain sidelined until the start of summer at the very earliest, undisputed lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev has…

Expected to remain sidelined until the start of summer at the very earliest, undisputed lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev has been accused of avoiding a rematch with Charles Oliveira in his UFC return, according to the Brazilian’s coach.

Makhachev, the current undisputed lightweight titleholder and the current pound-for-pound number one ranked fighter on the promotion’s books, is expected to remain sidelined from the Octagon through an unspecified injury.

Eyeing a return in June at the very earliest, Makhachev has called for a title fight with newly-crowned symbolic BMF champion, Justin Gaethje, before suggesting a November return against either Oliveira, or former opponent, Arman Tsarukyan.

Charles Oliveira unsuccessfully chasing Islam Makhachev rematch

Slated to make his comeback in an officially-billed title eliminator against Tsarukyan at UFC 300 in April, Oliveira, who has been sidelined since last June, is chasing a rematch with Islam Makhachev to no avail, according to his coach.

“Honestly, I don’t think none of that will happen,” Diego Lima told MMA Fighting. “I think the winner of this fight will fight (Islam) Makhachev. There’s nothing else. There’s nowhere to run. I really believe that’s the fight. If you look at (Justin) Gaethje’s last six fights, if you look at (Dustin) Poirier’s last six fights, if you look at (Beneil) Dariush’s, there’s no one else for him to fight.”

“It’s Charles, it my opinion,” Lima continued. “It’s clear that he (Makhachev) doesn’t want to fight Charles. Not taking anything away from him, it wasn’t Charles that night. We won’t take anything away from him, but everybody saw it. It wasn’t Charles’ night. It was Makhachev’s night, and if they fight again, I’m sure it will be a whole other fight.”

Fighting at UFC 280 back in October 2022, Makhachev snapped the division-best winning run spanning 11 consecutive fights for Oliveira with a stunning second round arm-triangle submission win in the pair’s vacant title fight.

Who wins in a future title rematch: Islam Makhachev or Charles Oliveira?

Islam Makhachev lays out plan for UFC return, eyes Justin Gaethje title fight in June comeback from injury

Undisputed lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev has laid out plans for his next three fights in the Octagon – including…

Undisputed lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev has laid out plans for his next three fights in the Octagon – including two this year, in the form of a June comeback against former interim champion, Justin Gaethje, and then a November rematch with either Charles Oliveira or Arman Tsarukyan in an annual New York UFC return for the promotion.

Makhachev, the current undisputed lightweight champion and pound-for-pound number one ranked fighter under the banner of the promotion, has been sidelined since October, most recently landing a first round high-kick KO win over featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski in the pair’s rematch in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Offering his services to the UFC in March, prior to the beginning of Ramadan, Makhachev has been widely linked with a title fight defense against symbolic BMF champion and former interim gold holder, Gaethje.

Islam Makhachev eyes June comeback in Justin Gaethje clash

And dealing with an unspecified injury as per UFC CEO, Dana White, Makhachev confirmed plans for his next three fights – beginning with a June fight against the above-mentioned, Gaethje.

“June 8. UFC PPV vs. Gaethje,” Islam Makhachev posted on his official X account. “November UFC MSG vs. Oliveira/Arman. February 2025 vs. anybody Inshallah.”

Weighing up the possibility of an end-of-year title fight rematch with either former foes, Oliveira, or Tsarukyan, the latter pair are slated to meet in an officially-billed title-eliminator fight at UFC 300 in April, as part of a monumental card for the organization.

First fighting back in October 2022 in a vacant lightweight title fight, Makhachev snapped the division-best 11-fight winning spree of Sao Paulo finisher, Oliveira with a stunning second round arm-triangle submission success.

In his first successful title defense last February, Makhachev turned in a close decision win over Volkanovski – handing the New South Wales native his first promotional loss.

Who wins in a June championship fight: Islam Makhachev or Justin Gaethje?

Islam Makhachev lays out plan for UFC return, eyes Justin Gaethje title fight in June comeback from injury

Undisputed lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev has laid out plans for his next three fights in the Octagon – including…

Islam Makhachev eyes June comeback in Justin Gaethje clash

And dealing with an unspecified injury as per UFC CEO, Dana White, Makhachev confirmed plans for his next three fights – beginning with a June fight against the above-mentioned, Gaethje.

“June 8. UFC PPV vs. Gaethje,” Islam Makhachev posted on his official X account. “November UFC MSG vs. Oliveira/Arman. February 2025 vs. anybody Inshallah.”

In his first successful title defense last February, Makhachev turned in a close decision win over Volkanovski – handing the New South Wales native his first promotional loss.

Who wins in a June championship fight: Islam Makhachev or Justin Gaethje?

Islam Makhachev’s Manager Says Justin Gaethje deserves the next shot at UFC lightweight gold: ‘he Earned it’

Ali Abdelaziz, the manager of reigning UFC lightweight world champion Islam Makhachev, believes Justin Gaethje is the next man…

Ali Abdelaziz, the manager of reigning UFC lightweight world champion Islam Makhachev, believes Justin Gaethje is the next man in line for a shot at the 155-pound crown.

Originally, Makhachev was scheduled to defend his title against former titleholder Charles Oliveira at UFC 294 in October. Unfortunately, ‘Do Bronx’ suffered a cut whilst training, forcing him out of the highly anticipated rematch. In his place, Alexander Volkanovski stepped in on 11 days’ notice and ended up suffering a brutal first-round knockout. Many fight fans assumed that the UFC would simply reschedule Makhachev vs. Oliveira 2 for 2024, but that no longer appears to be the case.

Last week, Dana White announced that Oliveira would return at UFC 300 on April 13 for a clash with rising contender Arman Tsarukyan. The winner will presumably move on to face the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ later this year.

In the meantime, Abdelaziz believes that Gaethje should be the man challenging Makhachev for lightweight gold.

“I think it’s obvious, man Justin Gaethje… He’s on a two fight winning streak, phenomenal fighter,” Abdelaziz told ESPN’s Brett Okamoto in a recent interview. “One of the greatest entertainment fighters we [have] ever seen. He have the BMF title now. But you know him and Islam, it’s a history, you know. He fought Khabib, now he’s fighting Khabib’s protege and he earned it, you know, he earned it.”

After earning impressive back-to-back wins against Rafael Fiziev and Dustin Poirier, ‘The Highlight’ is considered by many to be the rightful No. 1 contender.

“Justin Gaethje is a guy [who has] never been given what he wants,” Abdelaziz added. “He earned it with sweat and blood and tear inside the cage. Islam is very interested to fight in him. But Islam you know he did this quote in the PI, he have to hold on to it, he said, ‘Doesn’t matter who when and how I’ll fight anybody they give me.”

When Will We See Islam Makhachev Back in the octagon?

As for when we could see Islam Makhachev back inside the Octagon, that’s a whole other issue. He hoped to defend his title ahead of Ramadan which runs from March 10 through April 9. With UFC 299 emanating from Miami, Florida on March 9, the timing appeared to line up perfectly.

However, the promotion has already announced that Sean O’Malley would defend his bantamweight title that night against Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera in the evening’s headliner.

The deal with Islam was to fight on March 9,” Abdelaziz said. “Of course, the UFC has a headliner already with Sean O’Malley. They said he’s the main event. They said we could fight in February, but it was too close his fight. The one he just fought [against Alexander Volkanovski]. It is what it is. He’s just going to wait for Ramadan or maybe the UFC will call tomorrow. O’Malley’s out, we need Islam, and then he can fight March 9. Islam is always training. Always in shape. He’s a professional.”

With Ramadan ending days before UFC 300 goes down in Las Vegas, Makhachev may very well sit on the sidelines until a winner emerges between Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan, meaning Gaethje may not get his shot until late 2024 or even early 2025.

UFC star Islam Makhachev set for sidelining until post-Summer through injury amid links to Justin Gaethje fight

Undisputed lightweight champion and pound-for-pound number one, Islam Makhachev has been confirmed as out until the summer at the…

Undisputed lightweight champion and pound-for-pound number one, Islam Makhachev has been confirmed as out until the summer at the very earliest according to UFC CEO, Dana White – who also revealed the Russian is being lined up to fight either former foes, Charles Oliveira, or Arman Tsarukyan next.

Makhachev, the current pound-for-pound number one ranked fighter on the promotion’s books, has been sidelined since he turned in a hellacious opening round high-kick KO win over two-time foe and featherweight kingpin, Alexander Volkanovski back in October at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Islam Makhachev sidelined through injury until after summer

And initially offering his services at organizational events from January through to March ahead of the beginning of Ramadan, Makhachev is currently recovering from an injury according to White, which will sideline him until the summer at the earliest.

“(Charles) Oliveira was supposed to fight the champ, Islam Makhachev, but Islam is still recovering from an injury,” Dana White revealed. “(Arman) Tsarukyan is coming off a vicious knockout of Beneil Dariush. The winner will face Islam when he returns this summer.”

Linked with a championship fight defense against former interim titleholder, and current symbolic BMF gold holder, Justin Gaethje, Makhachev has been linked with a return as soon as March, however, with the confirmation of his sidelining from UFC boss, White, it remains unclear as to what the former’s future will be.

According to White, the victor of a slated UFC 300 title-eliminator between former champion, Oliveira, and the surging, Tsarukyan will face Makhachev as the pair look to strike a title rematch with the American Kickboxing Academy force.

Twice defending his lightweight crown, Makhachev went the distance with Volkanovski in their first clash back in February of last year, landing a close decision win over the New South Wales technician.

Who does Islam Makhachev fight in his return to the UFC this year?