Dana White On Islam Makhachev’s Potential Next Opponent

Islam Makhachev defended his UFC lightweight title with a statement-making first-round knockout win over UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski in the main event of UFC 294. The stunning head-kick knockout came at the 3:06 mark of the first stanza. The win earned Makhachev his third straight fight-night bonus award.

After the UFC 294 pay-per-view fight card, which took place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi and streamed on ESPN+ pay-per-view, UFC CEO Dana White was asked about what made more sense for Makhachev’s next title defense. The UFC boss was given the options of former interim UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje or Makhachev’s original opponent for UFC 294, ex-UFC lightweight titleholder Charles Oliveira.

“Listen, you gotta give it to Oliveira,” said White. “Oliveira’s ready to go. Unfortunately he got cut. I think you give it to Oliveira, but again, these are all questions I can’t really answer right now. We get home, we figure stuff out, and see what’s next for everybody.”

Oliveira was pulled from UFC 294 the day before he was set to make the flight to Abu Dhabi. The No. 1 ranked lightweight in the official UFC rankings sustained a cut over his eye during a sparring session that resulted in stitches. With less than two weeks’ notice, Volkanovski stepped in to rematch Makhachev.

Makhachev and Volkanovski fought in February 2023 at UFC 284. Makhachev successfully defended his 155-pound crown in that matchup, winning a tightly contested five-round bout. The judges scored that fight 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 in favor of Makhachev. The exciting scrap earned “Fight of the Night” honors for the two combatants.

Makhachev won the vacant UFC lightweight belt in October 2022 with a submission victory over Oliveira. The former champ bounced back from that defeat with a June 2023 TKO victory over Beneil Dariush.

Gaethje is the No. 2 ranked fighter in the official UFC 155-pound rankings. He is currently riding a two-fight winning streak. His most recent victory was a July knockout win over Dustin Poirier.

In the lead-up to Saturday’s UFC 294 main event, Makhachev offered his thoughts on how the UFC should decide who he will face next in the octagon. “I’m pretty sure that after this fight, there’s already two definite opponents that are ready for a fight with me,” Makhachev said at Wednesday’s UFC 294 media day. “I think the two of them should fight each other so we have an actual No. 1 contender for the belt.”