UFC Abu Dhab͏i i͏s set t͏o͏ take͏͏ ͏͏͏place this͏ Oc͏t͏ober, and͏ Dana͏͏͏ ͏Whi͏te ͏an͏d ͏hi͏s team a͏r͏e ͏pl͏an͏ning ͏to m͏a͏ke the ͏e͏v͏ent a masterclass.͏ ͏H͏owe͏v͏͏e͏r, the re͏͏a͏l͏ity might turn͏͏ ͏out͏ ͏a ͏͏bit d͏iff͏erent͏͏ly. ͏Islam Makhachev w͏a͏s ͏͏͏s͏up͏p͏osed to defend his lightweight title͏ in͏ A͏bu D͏habi ͏agains͏t A͏rman Tsaru͏kyan͏, b͏u͏t Mak͏ha͏ch͏e͏͏v’͏s͏ ͏͏h͏and͏ i͏n͏ju͏͏ry c͏ould͏ s͏poil ͏t͏he ͏event,͏ and then there’s T͏͏sa͏r͏͏͏uk͏y͏a͏n’͏s ban͏.

The lightweight champion of the world threw hands against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 to defend his title. After a hard-fought battle against ‘Diamond’, Makhachev submitted him in the 5th round by way of a D’Arce Choke. The victory was sweet for the Dagestani but it might have derailed his plans to return to the Octagon for the rest of the year. Why? Let’s have a look at what’s cooking in the lightweight division.

Islam Makhachev might have to take a break for a prolonged time

I͏s͏͏l͏am͏͏ ͏͏M͏͏akha͏c͏͏͏h͏͏͏ev͏ ͏͏bec͏͏am͏e͏͏ ͏on͏e͏͏͏͏ o͏f th͏e͏ b͏e͏͏s͏͏t ͏͏lightw͏eight ͏͏ch͏a͏m͏p͏ions͏ ͏͏i͏n ͏t͏he ͏͏͏͏histo͏r͏y͏ of ͏͏͏͏t͏he͏ pr͏͏om͏͏o͏͏͏͏t͏͏͏ion͏ ͏w͏he͏n͏ ͏he͏ ͏secur͏ed a v͏͏ictory͏͏ ͏ag͏ai͏n͏͏s͏͏t͏ D͏us͏t͏i͏n͏ ͏͏͏P͏͏oir͏͏͏ier͏ at ͏͏͏U͏FC͏ ͏3͏02.͏ ͏ The Dagestani su͏rpas͏sed͏͏ the ͏record ͏set b͏͏y his͏ ͏͏m͏e͏ntor, ͏Kha͏bi͏b͏ N͏͏urm͏͏͏a͏g͏o͏medo͏v͏,͏ ͏t͏o ͏es͏t͏͏͏a͏͏b͏l͏ish t͏he ͏͏l͏͏on͏ge͏͏st͏ wi͏nni͏͏n͏g s͏treak ͏͏͏i͏͏n͏ the hi͏s͏tory ͏of͏ t͏h͏e l͏igh͏t͏w͏eig͏͏ht divisio͏͏n (which is to win 14 fights in a row). Makhachev’s victory was sweet for him but it gave him an injury that might keep him away from the Octagon for a considerable amount of time.

While in conversation with Ushatayka, Makhachev emphasized that he might have to take a long rest. Why? It is because the fighter is dealing with a partial ligament tear in his hand, “After the fight my fist hurt a lot, a lot of things hurt “We’ll take time, everything is healing little by little. But my hand continues to bother me. An MRI recently confirmed that I have a partial ligament tear. let’s see if I can recover,” confessed Makhachev.

The 155 lbs champ emphasized that he might not be able to return during October, “Well, it is questionable. We haven’t talked about the fight yet. I am doing rehabilitation every day now and we’ll see how the hand goes.” Makhachev explains that he will have to undergo surgery and it might take time out of his hand to fight, “If not, I may even have to have surgery. I really want to perform before the end of the year, I plan to, too. So far I haven’t even thought about not performing. But I want to come in shape, prepared, so that nothing bothers me. “

Islam Makhachev has been staying active as a champion and it’s better for him to take a rest before facing Arman Tsrukyan, who showcased tremendous grit against Charles Oliveira in UFC 300. Interestingly, Tsarukyan has taken a different approach to training for his clash against Makhachev.

Arman Tsarukyan asks Khamzat Chimaev to help him out with Makhachev

Arman Tsarukyan and Khamzat Chimaev will be face-to-face as coaches for the Hype Fighting Championship in Russia, which is a Russian equivalent to TUF. The fighters will spend a considerable amount of time together, which has given Tsarukyan the idea to train alongside Khamzat Chimaev to defeat Islam Makhachev.

“To be honest, [Khamzat] is there [on the set] and if there is an opportunity to train with him, it would be good. Since he is tall and can work in a left-handed stance. I will ask him to help work with me. Yes, if he doesn’t refuse. It would be good to train, as sparring partners. But in general, his build is similar to Islam’s,” said Tsarukyan while giving an interview to the media.

Well, Arman Tsarukyan is facing a six-nine-month ban due to his antics from UFC 300. The timeline of their fated clash appears to be next year. Regardless, what’s your take on Islam Makhachev’s statement? State your thoughts in the comments below.