Islam Makhachev last defended his UFC lightweight title against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 on June 2, 2024. He's defended the belt thrice now, and fans are excited to see him battle it out against former rival Arman Tsarukyan.

The Armenian prospect is riding a four-fight win-streak which includes a decision win over former champ Charles Oliveira at UFC 300. However, he'll be out of action until, at least, October 12, 2024, due to a suspension for punching a fan while walking out.

Makhachev has now revealed a hand injury as well, and here's how it could affect his next fight and opponent.

Who Is Islam Makhachev's Next Fight?

Despite the hand injury, Makhachev is most likely to fight Tsarukyan for the UFC lightweight championship next. "Ahalkalakets" is the only fighter in the division with a strong case for a title shot, and the kingpin has acknowledged it repeatedly.

Interestingly, Makhachev is one of the only three fighters to beat Tsarukyan in his pro-MMA career. They fought in April 2019 at UFC Fight Night 149 and after three rounds of high-level grappling exchanges, the Dagestani fighter got the judges' nod.

Since the loss, Tsarukyan has racked up nine wins, and his close decision loss to Mateusz Gamrot was seen as an impressive performance nonetheless.

When Will Islam Makhachev Return To The UFC?

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Makhachev, during an interview with Ushatayka on YouTube, revealed that a hand injury might force him to get surgery, meaning he might not be able to fight at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi. This was the event rumored to feature his next title defense but naturally, it is hard to confirm anything now.

The news is undeniably disappointing for fans of the UFC lightweight champion as he was keen to defend his title again in 2024.

Tsarukyan, on the other hand, will feature in an anti-bullying PSA video to reduce his nine-month suspension to six and be eligible to fight after October 12. This could become insignificant if the champion cannot fight, though.