Islam Makhachev’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, won’t reveal who the UFC welterweight champion is fighting next.
Yesterday, rumors surfaced that Makhachev will face the undefeated and No. 3-ranked 170-pound contender Michael Morales on July 11 in Las Vegas, as per Jacque Enriquez.
However, Ali Abdelaziz says the above rumor is “fake news.”
The MMA manager previously claimed that the UFC is working on a “big fight” for Islam Makhachev, and No. 2-ranked welterweight Ian Machado Garry’s name is not in the mix.
This is, I can tell you, the UFC working on a big fight [for] Islam Makhachev, and Ian [Machado Garry’s] name is not involved. Much bigger. One of the biggest fights in the UFC right now they can make. Stay tuned.😉”
He initially stated that Garry was not in the conversation to face the P4P king next (as posted above), but later recanted his statement and wrote on X:
The Champ will let you know, there are so many great options, you in the conversation for now”
Ian Machado Garry slams Ali Abdelaziz and also takes a dig at Islam Makhachev for making “The Future” wait
Earlier today, Ian Machado Garry, while working on his takedown defense, shot a video and uploaded the same training clip to Instagram, captioning it:
I was always respectful of Ramadan. I agreed for the fight to be in April or May. Now, Islam wants even more time.”
In that same clip, he fired verbal shots at Ali Abdelaziz for the latter’s recent claims. The Irishman said:
He [Islam Makhachev] needs more time. And his agent is talking out of his ar*e… Because Ali is full of sh*t. Little rat.”
For Makhachev, the Dubliner added:
I believe Islam is ready to fight. I believe Islam is the very best the way this world has to offer a fighter. But don’t call yourself the pound-for-pound greatest on the planet and try to push for more time. That’s all. Anyone, anywhere, anytime, that’s the baddest man on the planet and the guy who lives by that mantra is me.”
The short-notice risk taker has repeated again and again that he’s ready to fight, but Makhachev isn’t.
Ian Machado Garry’s last fight was in 2025 at UFC Qatar, where he defeated Belal Muhammad by unanimous decision.
Makhachev, on the other hand, dethroned Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 and is yet to make the first defense of his welterweight title.
