Islam Makhachev has ‘verbally agreed’ to first welterweight title defense as he starts training camp

Islam Makhachev has yet to literally put pen to paper on a deal for his UFC return – but has agreed to a deal for a bout later this year.

MMA’s top promotion infamously take their time sending actual contracts for fighters, but always manage to get the big shows over the line. Just last week UFC White House star Aiemann Zahabi even claimed he has yet to be signed up for a card that is already announced and heavily promoted.

On Tuesday, Ian Machado Garry teased that he has received a call for his next fight, which is believed to be against Makhachev. The Irishman is the division’s top contender aside from former champion Jack Della Maddalena who was dethroned in November, and reports are that the pair will meet in August.

Islam Makhachev has agreed to his next UFC fight

For the last few days, members of Islam Makhachev and Usman Nurmagomedov’s training teams have been posting videos from what appears to be the early part of a training camp. The latter is PFL lightweight champion, and is expected to defend his belt again later this year.

And in a recent interview with Ushatayka, Makhachev confirmed that while there is no official deal for a fight, he has agreed to an opponent. He didn’t name Ian Machado Garry specifically, but it has been reported by Ariel Helwani that the plan is for that fight to take place at UFC 330 in Philadelphia.