The odds looked slim for an October return for Islam Makhachev, given his recent comments.
Now his coach, Javier Mendez, has lent much credence to that possibility.
Mendez, long-time coach of Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC), recently gave an update on his pupil’s hand injury. He said there’s still no timeline for his return, but what is certain is that his expected return against Arman Tsarykyan at UFC 308 on Oct. 26 in Abu Dhabi won’t be going down.
“Yes, he’s got a ligament injury, and he’s getting consultation from different doctors, and we’ll see what they say he has to do,” Mendez told Helen Yee. “But yeah, he’s not going to be able to train for a fight till probably late (November-December), or maybe January.
“It depends on what the UFC and him and can come up with, but he’s definitely not going to be able to fight in October like people are hoping.”
Although the event and date will have to change, Mendez is confident that Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) will remain as challenger, especially after Belal Muhammad won the welterweight title from Leon Edwards this past Saturday at UFC 304.
“I would think it would be the Arman rematch because I don’t see anything else in the horizon, being that Belal won the welterweight title,” Mendes said. “I seriously, seriously doubt that they would want to fight each other, so I think that changes the dynamic of going-for-two-belts situations.
“I think Arman was on point as far as the next opponent, anyway. That’s the fight I would want to happen, anyway.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.
