Islam
Makhachev could eventually don boxing gloves and compete in the
squared circle professionally.

Makhachev recently attended Zuffa 09 at Infosys Theater in Madison
Square Garden, New York, where he met Turki Al-Sheikh. Ahead of his
welterweight title defense against Ian Garry at
UFC
330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, the

Ultimate Fighting Championship champion detailed his
conversation with Al-Sheikh about potentially boxing under the
Zuffa banner.

Islam Makhachev discusses potential Zuffa Boxing match with
Turki Al-Sheikh

Makhachev revealed that he spoke to Zuffa Boxing co-founder
Al-Sheikh about a potential boxing match and said Al-Sheikh offered
to book a bout whenever he is ready.

“We had good talks about a boxing match in Zuffa Boxing,†Makhachev
told MMA Junkie. “We spoke with Sheikh Turki, and I don't know if
it's a secret or not, but he said, ‘When you will be ready for
boxing, just let me know and we will do something.'â€

Makhachev also revealed that he is open to a boxing match against
fellow MMA fighters.

“Yeah, why not? Box with some other fighters.â€

However, Makhachev is unlikely to be allowed to box while he
remains an active UFC fighter. Dana
White has been vehemently opposed to active UFC fighters
competing in crossover boxing matches, with Conor
McGregor's iconic clash against Floyd
Mayweather in 2017 being the lone exception.

Despite his extensive accomplishments in combat sports, Islam
Makhachev remains humble.

Makhachev recently received a black belt in taekwondo from his
coach, Seifulla
Magomedov, who is a four-time European taekwondo champion.
However, Makhachev, who is from Dagestan, humbly admits that the
credibility of his black belt is questionable.

Islam Makhachev questions new taekwondo black belt after
receiving promotion

Makhachev believes the black belt was more of a gift from his coach
than a well-deserved promotion.

“This belt we have to check,†Makhachev told MMA Junkie. “One of my
coaches is Russian Olympic team coach. He just give me. I call this
gift. Not something I really deserve.â€

Like many of Makhachev's one-liners, “checking belts†has become a
part of mixed martial arts folklore. The phrase was first used by
the reigning welterweight champion while discussing the threat
posed by fighters with black belts in jiu-jitsu. Makhachev famously
said that the credibility of jiu-jitsu black belts needs to be
checked, as there are too many being doled out.

Makhachev (28-1) defended the
Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight title four times,
the most in the division's history, before moving up to
welterweight, where he dethroned Jack
Della Maddalena to win the title last year. He is now scheduled
to defend his 170-pound title for the first time against Ian Garry
(17-1) at UFC
330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.

Islam
Makhachev was NOT confident while speaking about his recent
promotion to a black belt in Taekwondo 😭

“Bro this belt we have to check… I call this gift you know, not
something I really deserve…â€

(Via @MMAJunkie)
pic.twitter.com/gIze8bhitQ

— Title Fight (@TitleFightMedia)
August 3, 2026

Islam
Makhachev and his new training partner, Joel
Alvarez, are set to compete on the same card.

Makhachev is scheduled to defend his
Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight title against
Ian
Garry in the main event at UFC
330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. Alvarez
was specifically brought into Makhachev's camp to mimic Garry and
the Spaniard is now reportedly set to compete at the upcoming
numbered event.

Joel Alvarez replaces Geoff Neal and joins Islam Makhachev vs.
Ian Garry card at UFC 330

As reported by Alvaro Colmenero, Alvarez (23-4) has accepted a
short-notice fight against Chidi
Njokuani (25-12) at UFC 330. “El Fenomeno†steps up on about
two weeks' notice after Njokuani's original opponent, Geoff Neal,
pulled out due to an injury.

Alvarez is 8-3 in the UFC, with all of his losses coming against
elite opponents. He went 7-2 while competing as a lightweight in
the promotion, although he missed weight twice. Despite putting
together a three-fight win streak at 155 pounds without missing
weight across 2023 and 2024, he opted to move up to welterweight,
winning his 170-pound debut in the UFC against Vicente
Luque.

He is coming off a submission loss against Yaroslav
Amosov that snapped a four-fight winning streak with three
finishes. Meanwhile, Njokuani is 5-5 in the UFC and currently on a
two-fight slump.