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 12 months.

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

Does Ian Machado Garry have what it takes to beat Islam Makhachev? Explain your decision down below!

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 except for 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 previous couple of days, members of Islam Makhachev and Usman Nurmagomedov’s training teams have been posting videos from what appears to be the early a part of a training camp. The latter is PFL lightweight champion, and is anticipated to defend his belt again later this 12 months.

And in a recent interview with Ushatayka, Makhachev confirmed that while there isn’t any official deal for a fight, he has agreed to an opponent. He didn’t name Ian Machado Garry specifically, but it surely has been reported by Ariel Helwani that the plan is for that fight to happen at UFC 330 in Philadelphia.

“The opponent is thought verbally, but there are not any confirmed agreements or signed contracts for the time being,” Makhachev said in a post translated by Instagram. “But I’ve already began my basic training.

“I’m in Kislovodsk, within the highlands. We’ve specially chosen this place with a big team, and we’re preparing.”

A fight with Garry would reignite the infamous Ireland vs Dagestan feud, which the Russians have completely dominated so far. Conor McGregor lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov in the most important MMA fight of all time in 2018, before Paul Hughes ran Usman Nurmagomedov close twice in PFL last 12 months.