Islam Makhachev Provides Injury Update and Return Timeline

Islam Makhachev recently provided an update on his recovery following his victory over Ian Garry at UFC 330, where he achieved his 17th consecutive win. This milestone surpassed Anderson Silva’s previous record of 16 straight victories.

After the fight, Makhachev underwent three MRIs to assess a rib injury sustained during the bout. He reported minor issues but confirmed that nothing serious was found. The 34-year-old expressed his desire to compete again before Ramadan in February 2027, indicating that he would prefer a fight date before this period.

Makhachev is currently under a mandatory 30-day medical suspension due to a rib contusion, which will end on September 14, allowing him to resume training. Potential opponents for his next title defense include Carlos Prates, who has expressed interest in fighting Makhachev before Ramadan, and Michael Morales, among others. The UFC has several months to arrange Makhachev's return, with December 2026 and January 2027 being likely timeframes.