![Fans share reaction after Islam Makhachev provides update on his return [Image courtesy: Getty Images, and @ThisIsMMANot__ - X]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/90a95-17265956084486-1920.jpg)
![Fans share reaction after Islam Makhachev provides update on his return [Image courtesy: Getty Images, and @ThisIsMMANot__ - X]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Fans recently reacted after Islam Makhachev provided an optimistic update regarding the timeline for his octagon return. The Dagestani has been out of action since suffering a hand injury after his successful lightweight title defense against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302.
There was uncertainty surrounding the reigning lightweight champion's status for the remainder of the year after it was announced that UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi would be headlined by Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway. Championship Rounds tweeted a quote from Makhachev's conversation with Ushatayka, where he disclosed that he will be able to return at the earliest in December:
"I have a small injury now, but I'm already finishing my treatment. I'll be ready around the end of the year, January, beginning of the year."
Trending
Check out Islam Makhachev's comments below:
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
The Dagestani's injury update makes a lightweight title clash against top contender Arman Tsarukyan a possibility for the final pay-per-view of 2024. Fans took to the comments section and expressed their excitement for the lightweight champion's return as well as the highly anticipated rematch between Makhachev and Tsarukyan:
"Arman is waiting"
"Hell yeah. Two title defenses in 2024, baby!"
"I am eagerly looking forward to the P4P king official fight announcement."
Check out some more fan reactions below:
![Fan reaction tweets regarding Makhachev's timeline for his return [Image courtesy: @ChampRDS - X]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/781e2-17265943142629-1920.jpg)
Islam Makhachev reacts to Merab Dvalishvili's bantamweight title win at Noche UFC 306
In addition to fans reacting to the updated timeline for his octagon return, Islam Makhachev shared a reaction of his own as he weighed in on Merab Dvalishvili's bantamweight title win at Noche UFC 306 this past Saturday.
Makhachev took to his X account to congratulate Dvalishvili and mentioned that he is eager to see him defend his title against his teammate Umar Nurmagomedov:
"Welcome to the champions league Merab! Congrats! Can't wait to see your first defense vs Umar [Nurmagomedov]. This is what champions do, defend the title against anyone who's in front of us! @ufc"
