Islam Makhachev Hopes to Defend Title Again in 2024 Despite Hand Injury

The date for Islam Makhachev ’s next title defense remains uncertain due to a hand injury.

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.”