Islam Makhachev has locked the date of his next outing. The UFC lightweight champ, of course, is the promotion’s biggest Muslim superstar, and was thus originally expected to fight at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi this month. However, a lingering hand injury from his last fight forced him to turn down that booking.

There were initially fears that the champ might need surgery and be out till mid-2025. However, in an interview with ‘Za.Khabiba’, the Dagestani has confirmed he won’t be needing surgery and will compete again at UFC 311 on January 18, 2025. “In January, it’s just the time. My hand almost doesn’t bother me, I can already start training,” Makhachev said.

Except for the date, nothing else is known about the UFC’s first PPV card of 2025, even where it will be held. What we do know is that the lightweight king will face official #1 contender Arman Tsarukyan in a rematch for division gold (unless the UFC completely changes its mind, which is a slim albeit very real possibility).

Not only will UFC 311 be the scene of Makhachev’s fourth title defense, but also an opportunity to have his face carved on the Mt Rushmore of Lightweights in the UFC. After all, the Dagestani is on the cusp of breaking a couple of long-standing, illustrious records that would help cement his legacy as an all-time great and break out of Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s shadow once and for all.

Islam Makhachev closing in on legacy-defining fights next year

At the moment Islam Makhachev is tied for the most UFC lightweight title defenses in history. The record, of course, is shared by three other fighters, including his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov. And if the Makhachkala native can indeed defeat Tsarukyan, he will break that record and have a real case for being considered the greatest lightweight of all time.

Not to mention he is closing in on another, perhaps even more consequential record. At the moment, Makhachev is on a fourteen-fight winning streak in the UFC. He is behind only Anderson Silva (16 consecutive UFC wins) and Kamaru Usman (15) on that list. Even though Makhachev will not break Silva’s record even if he wins on UFC 311, he will be a hair’s breadth away from it.

‘The Spider’ of course, is in the GOAT conversation (even if the disastrous latter half of his career has damaged his case), in large part because of his sixteen consecutive wins in the toughest, most competitive MMA promotion in the world. And that is the position Makhachev is likely to find himself in if he indeed breaks or even equals the Brazilian’s record. As a bonus, the Dagestani champ doesn’t have all the losses Silva has on his record to sink his chances of being the GOAT. At least not yet. What are your predictions for Makhachev-Tsarukyan at UFC 311?