When will Islam Makhachev defend his crown against Arman Tsarukyan? That’s the question that has been on the MMA sphere’s mind ever since the Armenian contender secured his no. 1 spot by beating Charles Oliveira at UFC 300. But their story is taking its time to play out. Initially, reports suggested that the two elite lightweights could go head-to-head in Abu Dhabi in October.

But a hand injury sidelined Makhachev, delaying the fight. However, reports and speculation swirled about a new date at UFC 311 in 2025, which caused a lot of hype amongst the fans. Now, according to a recent statement by the champion’s manager, a cloud of uncertainty still lingers above this highly anticipated matchup.

Islam Makhachev’s manager causes a frenzy with contract status update for Arman Tsarukyan fight

In a recent post on Instagram, Red Corner MMA unveiled a startling revelation that threw the lightweight title fight into question. According to the report, “Islam Makhachev’s manager Rizvan Magomed says there are no contacts signed for the fight between his client and number one lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan. The fight between the two is believed to be aimed for January 18 at UFC 311, although no official announcements were made by the UFC.”

Are the UFC and Dana White holding back to create a dramatic revelation? Or are there lingering issues behind the scenes? It remains to be seen. But amidst widespread speculation, the statement has stirred both excitement and concern. While Tsarukyan’s manager, Sayat Abdrakhmanov, has expressed optimism about the fight happening, he too acknowledged the lack of an official announcement. 

In an interview with the YouTube channel Ushaytaka, Abdrakhmanov stated, “I think it is already clear to everyone that Arman and Islam will be [fighting soon]. I don’t know why they haven’t announced it yet. Maybe there are some agreements with the arena, maybe they haven’t approved the main fight and so on.”

The match-up is also intriguing due to the shared history between the two men. Tsarukyan faced off against Makhachev in his UFC debut on short notice in 2019. The bout won ‘Fight of the Night’ honors but the Dagestani warrior walked away with a unanimous decision victory.

Now, with Makhachev cementing his place as the P4P no. 1 fighter in the promotion, and Tsarukyan riding high on a 4-fight win streak, the silence from the UFC is deafening. For a promotion that thrives on hype and spectacle, the delay in announcing this high-stakes clash is very unusual. Yet, as the MMA sphere waits for more clarity, another elite lightweight has made an interesting observation on why ‘Team Khabib’ has been so dominant in their MMA careers!  

‘The Hangman’ reveals why the “myth” of Dagestani champions gives them an edge  

Dan Hooker knows what it feels like to step into the cage with Islam Makhachev. At UFC 267, ‘The Hangman’ suffered a first-round submission loss to the man who currently rules over the lightweight division. But what is it about these Dagestani warriors that make opponents falter? Is it their skill alone, or is something bigger at play?

In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Hooker put forth an interesting theory as he confessed, “The myth of it is bigger than the actual task, and they kind of ride off the back of the myth of Khabib, and that’s bled into Makhachev, and you can see it.”

For Hooker, this psychological warfare was palpable in his fight against Makhachev. The hype felt insurmountable. But in hindsight, he says boiling it down to the reality of the man in front of you could simplify the task. But will Arman Tsarukyan succumb to the same psychological traps? Or will he step into the Octagon and dismantle the legend piece by piece?

As the wait for an official announcement from the UFC and boss Dana White for the clash becomes more agonizing, one thing is clear, the stage is quietly being set for a battle of wills, skill, and legacy. Who do you favor in this re-match with the lightweight crown on the line? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!