Jan 18, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Islam Makhachev (red gloves) reacts after defeating Renato Moicano (not pictured) in a lightweight title fight during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

mma

Islam Makhachev Adds Fuel To Return Rumors With Latest Instagram Post!

After Khabib Nurmagomedov’s recent comments, Islam Makhachev’s latest post has fans buzzing about a potential return sooner than expected!

The MMA world has been buzzing with speculation ever since Islam Makhachev made his shocking decision to vacate the lightweight championship earlier this year. The Dagestani fighter surprised everyone by giving up his 155-pound belt, paving the way for Ilia Topuria to claim the vacant title against Charles Oliveira. It was later revealed that he was moving up to welterweight to challenge Jack Della Maddalena for his title.

Makhachev recently posted on Instagram, and fight fans are reading between the lines like detectives solving a mystery. His latest post shows him enjoying what appears to be the final moments of a well-deserved vacation, complete with horseback riding and quality time with his training partners at what looks like a beautiful ranch setting. But it’s not the scenic photos that have everyone talking, it’s the caption that’s got the MMA community fired up.

The Caption That Says It All

When translated from his native language, Makhachev’s Instagram caption reads simply: “Finished the vacation with a horse ride. Let’s work.” Those three little words at the end “Let’s work” might seem innocent enough, but they carry serious weight in the fight game. This sounds like a man preparing to get back to business, and serious business at that.

Islam Makhachev announced he's entering fight camp:
“Finished the vacation with a horse ride🐎. Let's work🎯”

This comes shortly after Khabib Nurmagomedov revealed that Islam will face Jack Della Maddalena at Madison Square Garden. pic.twitter.com/PYNwdNifus
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) August 3, 2025

The timing of this post makes it even more interesting when fans consider recent developments. Just recently, Makhachev’s longtime mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov spilled some major tea during a fan Q&A session in New York. ‘The Eagle,’ basically confirmed that Makhachev has a fight lined up at Madison Square Garden later this year. According to him, Islam will be facing Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight title, marking his debut in the 170-pound division.

If Makhachev does return to face Della Maddalena at Madison Square Garden, it would mark one of the most intriguing fights in recent UFC history. The Australian fighter represents a serious test for someone moving up in weight. Moreover, MSG provides the perfect stage for such a significant moment. Whether Makhachev can successfully make the transition from lightweight king to welterweight king remains to be seen. But his latest Instagram post suggests he’s ready to find out!

(Image Credit: Gary A. Vasquez – Imagn Images)

Islam Makhachev

Khabib Nurmagomedov

UFC 322

Zaid Quraishi

mma

I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!