Manager Hints Islam Makhachev Will Fight Justin Gaethje Next

Islam Makhachev will defend his strap against Justin Gaethje next, according to manager Ali Abdelaziz.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s lightweight title picture is currently a bit unclear. Makhachev has already expressed his preference in defending his belt against Gaethje over former opponents Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan.

Dana White recently announced a matchup between Oliveira and Tsarukyan for UFC 300 on April 13, with the winner securing a next title shot against the champ, who is expected to return after Ramadan.

However, Abdelaziz believes the title picture makes it obvious that Gaethje deserves the next shot against Makhachev, who also continues to chase that matchup.

“I think it’s obvious … Justin Gaethje’s a guy that never wants something to be given to him. He earned it with sweat and blood and tears inside the cage. Islam Makhachev, very interested to fighting him. He said, ‘Doesn’t matter who, when, and how. I’ll fight anybody they give me.’ Justin Gaethje has earned it and Islam is really excited about fighting him,” The Dominance MMA CEO told ESPN.

Makhachev himself has since laid out a plan for his next three bouts that would see him face Gaethje at a pay-per-view event in June before squaring off against the Oliveira-Tsarukyan winner in November.

June 8 UFC PPV vs Gaetje, November UFC MSG vs Olivera/Arman, February 2025 vs Anybody Inshallah 👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/yp0LKfj3Pw

— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) January 10, 2024

Gaethje is currently on a two-fight winning streak that saw him bounce back from a title loss against Oliveira. The BMF titleholder’s only other loss since 2018 came in a title fight against Makhachev’s mentor and teammate, Khabib Nurmagomedov, at UFC 254 .

Meanwhile, Makhachev dethroned Oliveira in October 2022 and has since defended his strap twice against featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski.