Islam Makhachev’s coach wants the champion to compete twice in 2024, acknowledges that only consecutive title defenses earn ‘legacy’ fights.
Veteran MMA coach Javier Mendez says that lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is most likely to return in June of this year and hopes to see his hand raised in at least two fights in 2024.
When pressed about the possibility of facing Leon Edwards for the welterweight belt next, Mendez acknowledged that his fighter must ‘resolve the lightweight’ picture before a ‘legacy’ fight for champ-champ status can materialize.
Coach Mendez on what 2024 should hold for Islam Makhachev
There had been rumblings surrounding Islam Makhachev being the main event of UFC 300, albeit without the realistic expectation of completing a training camp during Ramadan.
Speaking on the Helen Yee Sports YouTube channel, coach Javier Mendez “would probably assume June” is the target return window for the 25-1 lightweight champion – Ramadan this year takes place from March 10 to April 9.
“I would probably assume in June or up, I think because Ramadan ends April 9 so then after that, he’d probably want two months, so you’re talking June on. Hopefully, he can get two fights [this year] but let’s see what the UFC can plan for him.”
Mendez doubts whether Makhachev will get a chance to fight for the welterweight title in his next fight, saying that the Russian needs to resolve the lightweight picture first:
“The UFC, I’m sure they’ve got to have the lightweight title resolution taken care of by the next title challenger. I think maybe if we get by the next guy whoever it is, it doesn’t matter whether it’s Charles [Oliveira] or Justin [Gaethje], whoever the UFC puts in front of Islam, Islam’s going to accept.”
If Islam can get through a summer return fight at lightweight, Mendez hopes the UFC rewards him with a chance to move up to welterweight, which he describes as a “legacy fight.”
“That’s what Islam eventually wants. [Champ-champ] is something we all strive for, legacy fights and now that he’s the champ, now it’s [about] the legacy fight. It would be great to have that under his belt.”
By the time Makhachev does return to the octagon, the top of the UFC lightweight division might have seen a little bit of a shakeup considering some of the outstanding fights that have already been announced.
At UFC 299 in March, #3 ranked Dustin Poirier takes on #12 Benoit Saint-Denis.
That is to be followed by #1 ranked Charles Oliveira vs #4 Arman Tsarukyan, and #2 ranked Justin Gaethje welcoming Max Holloway back to the division at UFC 300 in April.
There’s also the possibility of a ‘notorious’ return in the Summer, which could throw McGregor or Chandler back into title contention should either deliver a notable victory – although we are still waiting on the super fight even being officially confirmed by the UFC.