Islam Makhachev Set to Make His UFC Lightweight Return on July 17th

Published 05/12/2021, 11:35 PM EDT

Islam Makhachev is set to return to the Octagon on July 17th. The Russian lightweight prospect is expected to fight Brazilian contender Thiago Moises in an intriguing clash. Makhachev, who last fought at UFC 259, earned a dominant win over Drew Dober. The Russian fighter suffocated Dober with his grappling pressure, eventually earning a finish in the 3rd round.

Moises, on the other hand, earned a unanimous decision win over Alexander Hernandez in February. He received plaudits for his performance from fans and experts. Now, he will have a step up in challenge as he prepares to fight Makhachev. The match-up is yet to be confirmed officially by the UFC. However, ESPN’s Brett Okamoto has been told by multiple sources about the possible booking.

Islam Makhachev is set to return to the Octagon on July 17, multiple sources tell @bokamotoESPN.
UFC is close to finalizing a three-round lightweight bout between Makhachev and Thiago Moises. pic.twitter.com/7JpvAgL3ZO
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) May 13, 2021

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The fight will also see a clash between two of the most renowned MMA gyms in the world. Makhachev, who is a teammate of former UFC lightweight kingpin Khabib Nurmagomedov, trains at the famous American Kickboxing Academy under the guidance of ‘The Eagle‘ and Javier Mendez.

Moises is an American Top Team trainee. He trains alongside the likes of Dustin Poirier, Jorge Masvidal, and more on a daily basis. No doubt, fans can expect a barn-burner on this one.

Both fighters will look to get a win on this one, thus guaranteeing themselves a meteoric rise in the divisional rankings. Makhachev has lost only once since making his UFC debut in 2015. He is currently on a seven-fight winning streak and has won 8 of his 9 fights in the promotion.

Islam Makhachev vs Thiago Moises: What to expect?

Just like Makhachev, Moises is on a roll at the 155 lbs division of the UFC at the moment. He is currently on a three-fight winning streak, including a finish of Michael Johnson. The Dana White’s Contender Series alumni has won 4 out of his 6 fights in the organization.

Both fighters are experts when the fight hits the mat. So, fans can expect to see some technical grappling in this one. Also, it can turn out to be a kickboxing match if they want to negate the opponent’s strength. Nevertheless, one can expect fireworks once the duo squares off.

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Who gets it done in July on the Tate vs Reneau undercard? Let us know your pick.

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Written by:

Apratim Banerjee is an MMA author for EssentiallySports and has been writing professionally for almost a year. Before his current gig, Apratim worked as a UFC writer for Sportskeeda. A long-time MMA fan, Apratim has developed a critical eye for the sport that has helped him transfer his vast knowledge to his copies and give hardcore and casual readers a detailed insight into the fights and fighters.

Islam Makhachev Set to Make His UFC Lightweight Return on July 17th

Islam Makhachev vs Thiago Moises: What to expect?

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