Islam Makhachev next fight news has finally arrived, and the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC today is set to defend his gold this June. But who will be challenging him for the lightweight title?
Related: UFC tonight – Fight card, betting odds, and watch times for Saturday’s UFC event
Who will Islam Makhachev next fight be against?
After eight months away from the sport, Islam Makhachev is scheduled to make his long-awaited return to action on June 1. And when the 155-pound king steps back into the Octagon in Newark, New Jersey former interim champion Dustin Poirier will be the man welcoming him back to the cage.
How to watch Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier on June 1
- Makhachev vs. Poirier with headline UFC 302 on June 1
- The event will take place inside the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey
- UFC 302 will air exclusively on ESPN+ for a cost of $79.99
- Tickets for UFC 302 are now available
Islam Makhachev vs Dustin Poirier preview
Despite losing his fight to Justin Gaethje last year, Dustin Poirier’s heroic come-from-behind win over Benoit Saint-Denis earlier this year secured a title shot and he is a worthy and dangerous challenge for the reigning lightweight king.
A mat problem for the Diamond: While Poirier has faced many of the best fighters of his era he has faced very few elite grapplers, except Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira. Makhachev is a close friend of Nurmagomedov and is likely to employ the same wrestling-heavy gameplan that he dominantly used to defeat Poirier in 2019. The question is, has “Diamond” come up with new tricks to avoid the same result?
Deadly threat on the feet: Makhachev has put together an impressive resume but he has not fought a competitor like Poirier who has technically sound striking and can drop bombs with his fists. If Makhachev can not get this fight to the ground often, this bout will be one of his biggest career challenges despite improved striking skills.
The bottom line: This is going to be one of the most highly anticipated bouts of 2024 as the Russian looks to secure another win over a future Hall-of-Famer and the American looks to make the most of what will be his last shot at a lineal UFC title.
Also Read: How UFC scoring works – Everything you need to know about how to win inside the Octagon
What makes Islam Makhachev so popular?
Islam Makhachev was the heir apparent to UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov when it comes to top MMA stars from Dagestan, Russia. However, during his run in the company he has built the type of resume where a debate could be made that he has surpassed the success of his legendary friend.
Not only is Islam Makhachev one of the very best fighters at 155 pounds, but he is among the five best pound-for-pound competitors in the world.
Related: UFC welterweight rankings – Ranking the top 10 170-pound fighters in the world
- What is Islam Makhachev’s record in the UFC?: 25-1 (5 KO, 11 submissions)
- Islam Makhachev height: 5-foot-10
- Islam Makhachev weight: The Russian competes in the UFC’s lightweight division, which has a max weight of 156 pounds in non-title fights.
- Islam Makhachev loss: His lone defeat was by technical knockout to Adriano Martins at UFC 192 in 2015.
- Along with having won UFC gold, Makhachev also won a Russian Sambo national championship before competing in MMA.
Islam Makhachev net worth
The measure of a fighter’s success is the dollars and cents they stack up from a career in combat sports. Due to landing some big sponsorships in recent years, Islam Makhavhev’s net worth is believed to be around $1 million.