If there’s one thing the MMA community excels at, it’s impatience. While UFC 312 is yet to take place, fans have already started talking about UFC 314—an event where a handful of fights have been locked in, but the main event still remains a mystery. However, one name keeps popping up for the big fight. It is Islam Makhachev!

At the press conference for UFC Fight Night 250 – Adesanya vs. Imavov, Dana White was asked: “You said you are preparing something special for Islam. Is it in his weightclass or a different weightclass?” The UFC boss responded: “As soon as we announce it, you’ll know,” with a slight smirk.

If there is one person who loves keeping us on our toes, it’s Dana White. He has been playing it a little too cryptic lately, dropping hints that something big is brewing for the 155lbs god-king without revealing much. With the rumors swirling, Makhachev’s own confidence only adds fuel to the fire. After that near-perfect win over Renato Moicano at UFC 311, the Dagestani juggernaut has got the swagger to match his words, “I’ve beaten almost everybody.”

So now, naturally, the question everyone’s asking is, what’s next for the 155-pound champ? Could UFC 314 be the stage where the reigning champ goes for something even bigger? Here’s the thing: Rumors suggest he could next face Ilia Topuria!

It is possible that Topuria could be eyeing Makhachev’s belt at 155 lbs. However, this makes one wonder what is in it for the Dagestani champ. He had already fought featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski twice, so why bother with another guy coming up from 145lbs.

Additionally, his last fight was in January 2025. If there is any truth to the UFC 314 rumors surrounding Makhachev, it will be a very short turnaround time as UFC 314 will take place in April.

Surely, Makhachev cannot be thrilled if the Topuria fight is in the pipeline. He once even said it was something that did not make sense for his legacy, but wait, don’t write it off just yet.

So what’s the deal with this Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev situation?

Well, it turns out the Dagestani champ’s not totally against it, but only under the right circumstances. Makhachev is looking for a challenge with some real stakes. If he’s going to risk his belt, it needs to make sense, or else it’s just not worth it. “I don’t see a lot of work to do in my division,” he said a week ago, and after dominating the top names at lightweight, it’s tough to argue against it.

Makhachev is not just in it for a fight, he wants something that will push him to new heights. But with Topuria rising, maybe the time is right to see if Makhachev will take advantage of the opportunity.

And then there is Bo Nickal, who’s already calling the shots. While we’re all here speculating, Nickal is acting like he’s got the inside scoop. He had a completely different take. “Ilia and Volk, April, 314? I think it’s locked in,” he said a couple of days ago on his podcast ‘Nickals and Dimes’, which led to speculations about it being the main event for UFC 314.

“It’s official. I know for a fact,” Nickal further stated. But funnily, he was not just talking about the main event but also hinted that he could fight on the same card. With his perfect 7-0 record, don’t be surprised if we see him fight in Miami.

Do you think Dana White is cooking up a masterstroke with Islam Makhachev, or is he about to pull a fast one and shake up the UFC again? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!