Islam Makhachev hints at making UFC return sooner than expected despite Dana White's August claim

UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, who moved up to 170 pounds in late 2025 and defeated Jack Della Maddalena to claim the welterweight title, appears set to return sooner than Dana White's stated August timeline. Makhachev's manager Ali Abdelaziz reportedly leaked that his fighter could return in July during International Fight Week, contradicting White's public statements. A challenger for Makhachev's first welterweight title defense has not yet been officially confirmed.