- Islam Makhachev said his hand injury might require a surgery
- The lightweight champ is unsure about being cleared to fight in October
Islam Makhachev is uncertain about making his return when the UFC goes to Abu Dhabi this October for UFC 308 due to a hand injury.
Islam may need a surgery
Speaking to Ushatayka, the reigning lightweight champion revealed that MRI results determined that he had torn a ligament in his hand after incurring damages from his last fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 302. According to Makhachev, a surgery might be needed but he is still waiting for the next update.
“After the fight, my fists hurt, a lot of things hurt,” Makhachev said. “We’ll take time. Everything is healing little by little. But my hand continues to bother me. An MRI recently confirmed that I have a partial ligament tear. Let’s see if I can recover. If not, I might even have to have surgery.
Islam Makhachev reveals a hand injury that could potentially keep him out for the rest of the year:
"An MRI recently confirmed that I have a partial ligament tear. Let's see if I can recover. If not, I might even have to have surgery…
It is questionable [that I fight in… pic.twitter.com/h1LckjReRP
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 28, 2024
UFC 308 is questionable
Makhachev has expressed his interest to fight once again before the year ends. It would’ve been a perfect opportunity for Makhachev to be included in UFC 308 which is targeted to take place on Oct, 26 in Abu Dhabi. However, the champ admitted that as of now, it’s still “questionable.”
“It is questionable,” Makhachev said. “We haven’t talked about the fight yet. I am doing rehabilitation every day now. And we’ll see how the hand goes.”
“I really want to perform before the end of the year,” he added. “I plan to. So far, I haven’t even thought about not performing. I want to come in shape, prepared, so that nothing bothers me. Before the last fight, there were also a lot of minor injuries. Everyone somehow accumulated. I want to give my body time to recover.”
Makhachev has defended his lightweight title three times since dethroning Charles Oliveira back in 2022. With Arman Tsarukyan suspended, “Do Bronx” and his team believe it would be best to do a title fight rematch.
