Islam Makhachev is eager to make history.
Speaking recently to Arena Fight TV, the reigning UFC welterweight champion (28-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) said he is ready to defend his title at the promotion’s proposed June fight card at the White House, a historic setting that would mark an unprecedented moment for the sport.
“If somebody wants to fight me, let’s do it,” Makhachev said. “I tell them I will be ready soon. If it’s at the White House, of course I want to be in the White House, because this is maybe the one and only time we will make the fighting in the White House. I want to be a part of history.”
While the UFC has yet to officially confirm the bout lineup for the June event, the possibility of staging fights at the White House has generated significant buzz across the MMA community. A card at such an iconic venue would represent a landmark crossover between combat sports and American political symbolism.
For Makhachev, however, the motivation goes beyond spectacle. The Dagestani champion emphasized that financial security is no longer his primary driver.
“Now I’m already making good money, enough for my family, and now I have everything,” he said. “Now I’m just ready. I’m training every day. Still hungry, still fighting, still want to be champion.”
With his competitive fire intact, Makhachev appears determined to cement his legacy, potentially on one of the sport’s most unique stages.
