Overview
- He confirmed he turned down a UFC 324 headliner on Jan. 24, saying the late offer and nine‑week turnaround left insufficient preparation time.
- Makhachev is aiming to defend the welterweight belt in April–June 2026 after Ramadan and says he is open to being booked on the planned White House card.
- He says the UFC did not provide a name for the January proposal; he suspects it was Michael Morales, while his manager heard possibilities of Kamaru Usman or Ian Machado Garry.
- The champion has publicly pushed for Usman next, calling the former titleholder his hardest fight at 170 pounds and arguing Usman’s experience would overwhelm younger contenders.
- Debate over the next challenger continues, with Ian Machado Garry dismissing Usman’s case and Sean Brady backing Morales, as Makhachev also contends Shavkat Rakhmonov should win on return before a title shot.