With UFC 317 set to anchor the much-hyped International Fight Week this June, anticipation had been building around a potential blockbuster bout. UFC CEO Dana White had already teased this middleweight clash as a “fun” fight to headline the biggest MMA event of the year during the UFC 314 post-fight presser. And despite no official confirmation, it sparked a wave of excitement among fans. But it now seems that White & Co. might have run into a string of bad luck — or perhaps the wrath of the MMA gods.

Since the start of the year, setbacks have plagued the promotion: injuries derailing key matchups, last-minute withdrawals, and weight-cut disasters. And now, just as things seemed to be coming together, another potential headliner appears to be in jeopardy. The rumored UFC 317 middleweight title clash between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev — a bout that had the makings of one of the biggest showdowns of the year — might not happen as planned.

This isn’t just hearsay. Veteran journalist Kevin Iole shared the troubling update in his latest piece, although the UFC has yet to confirm it. In his Friday article, Iole wrote: “I’m hearing Dricus du Plessis is injured, and though there has been no confirmation, if that’s accurate, a bout between Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev couldn’t headline IFW,” wrote Iole in a Friday article about UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. “So Makhachev will be needed for Las Vegas in June.”

Now, the ball is in the UFC’s court. If this report turns out to be true, it would mark the first time Dricus Du Plessis has pulled out of a fight since becoming UFC champion last year. On the other hand, Khamzat Chimaev has already spent a significant amount of time on the sidelines due to numerous canceled bouts in the past. Another delay would only add to the frustration surrounding his career trajectory.

With just two months left until UFC 317—one of the promotion’s biggest events of the year—the only confirmed title bout so far is the flyweight clash between reigning champ Alexandre Pantoja and veteran Kai Kara-France. But to truly match the hype surrounding the card, Dana White and Co. need a heavy hitter, and Islam Makhachev might be the man to step up. The question now is: who’s the right opponent for him?

Who might Islam Makhachev face to salvage the UFC 317 event?

Islam Makhachev, the reigning UFC lightweight champion, last entered the Octagon in January for the year’s first pay-per-view event at UFC 311. In his fourth title defense, Makhachev successfully retained his 155-pound title against Renato Moicano, who stepped in as a late replacement for Arman Tsarukyan, who was forced to withdraw due to health issues. Now, June is shaping up as the expected return date for Makhachev, and with his undeniable star power, the timing couldn’t be better—especially given Jon Jones’ hesitance to face Tom Aspinall.

According to Veteran journalist Kevin Iole highlights that the pool of potential opponents for Islam Makhachev is deep. With the UFC’s top seven lightweight contenders still unbooked for upcoming bouts, the division has become somewhat congested. Despite this, Iole suggests that Makhachev’s potential move to welterweight may be delayed, as UFC 317 in Las Vegas requires a headline-worthy lightweight bout. High-profile fighters such as Charles Oliveira, Ilia Topuria, Justin Gaethje, Max Holloway, and rising star Paddy Pimblett are all in the mix.

In particular, Iole considers Gaethje, Oliveira, and Tsarukyan as the most likely challengers for Makhachev. Analyzing the options, Iole concluded: “The way Tsarukyan pulled out late against Makhachev has clearly soured UFC brass on him. He’ll need another win before a title shot. That leaves just Gaethje and Oliveira. Either is a win. The challenge isn’t picking the right fight. It’s picking the right one right now. And for UFC 317, that likely means Makhachev against Gaethje.”

So, what’s your take on UFC 317? With Du Plessis vs. Chimaev potentially off the table, who do you think could step in to match the star power and keep the event buzzing? Drop your thoughts below!