UFC News: Dana White Gets a Headliner Headache as Islam Makhachev Demands Madison Square Garden Amid Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic Request

Dana White has found himself in a great dilemma because of Islam Makhachev. Days after Stipe Miocic asked the UFC CEO for a fight at Madison Square Garden, Makhachev has come up with the same request. Yes, folks! You heard that right! The lightweight champion wants to defend his belt at the same event where Miocic is expected to fight Jon Jones for the heavyweight title. This indeed puts White and the UFC in quite a conundrum.

In a recent conversation with the former UFC fighters, Chael Sonnen and Daniel Cormier, on Sonnen’s talk show, ‘Good Guy/Bad Guy’, Makhachev made the big revelation while answering one of the questions DC threw at him.

During the conversation, the former UFC heavyweight champ asked Makhachev about his expectations about his upcoming fight. Set to land against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302, the Dagestani fighter said that he was pretty excited. The champ further mentioned his willingness to come back and defend his title once again this year (provided he won against Poirier) at Madison Square Garden. 

“You know, I’m happy to be here, defense my belt, first time in the US. And honestly, if I defense my belt now, I want to come back and defense my belt again in Madison Square Garden,” the lightweight champion replied. Now, this wasn’t the first time Makhachev expressed his desire to fight at MSG.

In January 2024, when the UFC 302 main card was yet to be announced, the Dagestani champ took to X and expressed his desire to fight Justin Gaethje in June. But he had plans for a second fight, this year, at MSG. The mixed martial artist also pointed at a possible rematch against Charles Oliveira or a fight with Arman Tsarukyan at UFC MSG and then targeted a third fight for 2025. “June 8 UFC PPV vs [Gaethje], November UFC MSG vs Olivera/Arman, February 2025 vs Anybody Inshallah,” the fighter announced in the tweet. Now why does this complicate things for Dana White? 

Talking to Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson on the JAXXON podcast, Stipe Miocic recently disclosed that he would fight Jones for the heavyweight title likely in November, hinting at NYC’s Madison Square Garden as the venue for the event. He revealed, “They (UFC) were talking about July, that passed on… I’m thinking more — maybe November again in New York.”

Speaking to the media after UFC St. Louis, Dana White confirmed the same with a “sounds right.” Now this puts both Jones and Makhachev as two potentially viable options for the staple event at MSG. Makhachev and Jones sit at the #1 and #2 ranks on the P4P list respectively. Who will White choose to headline MSG if Makhachev retains at UFC 302?

Bittersweet dilemma for Dana White?

It is highly unlikely that either of these champions would want to play second fiddle to the other. So a double title fight in the main event and co-main event can be ruled out. This is the same reason that Conor McGregor was kept aside for International Fight Week rather than being added to the highly stacked UFC 300, as many fans wanted. That decision proved right, as UFC 300 reaped enormous success, and UFC 303 has already reportedly set the highest gate revenue record of $20 million.

While White may be burdened with this choice, he has an out – UFC 306 at the Las Vegas Sphere, or UFC 307, which could likely be their annual October visit to Abu Dhabi. While Conor McGregor wants to headline the former, Makhachev could be the perfect fit for the latter.

However, with Makhachev coming up with a request for the same venue as Jones’ prospective return, the UFC is under alert. Would Dana White let both, Miocic and Makhachev, have their fights at MSG in the same event? Will UFC 309 bear witness to two title fights? Only time can tell. But two title fights featuring stars such as Makhachev, Miocic, Poirier and Jones will also be a massive selling point for White and a chance to make a ton load of money.

One thing is certain. The world of MMA could be in for exciting times by the time 2024 comes to an end.

What do you think Dana White will pull off here? How do you think the second half of 2024 will shape up for the MMA wing of TKO group? Let us know in the comments.