New York: Islam Makhachev has opened up about why his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov is advising him against participating in the upcoming UFC White House event. The event is scheduled for June 14, 2026, coinciding with the 80th birthday of former US President Donald Trump and the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Speaking to Red Corner MMA, Makhachev revealed that uncertainty around the event is a major reason for Khabib’s caution.
“Sometimes Khabib says he doesn’t want me to fight in Abu Dhabi because of too many factors of distraction. Probably the White House event will be no different,” Makhachev explained.
“The first-ever tournament there, we don’t know what it’s going to be like. We are on the level where everything should be planned in good time.”
Makhachev also drew parallels to his previous fight in Australia against Alexander Volkanovski, which posed unexpected logistical and preparation challenges.
“Say my fight in Australia, there were a lot of things we had to take care of during the event. A lot of issues we had to deal with for the first time. That’s why the fight turned out to be so hard. Maybe that’s the reason Khabib said it. We don’t know what it’s going to look like, and he doesn’t want us to be there,” Makhachev added.
The Dagestani fighter recently made history by becoming a two-division champion after defeating former welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322, moving up from the lightweight division.
Makhachev’s comments highlight both the strategic guidance of Khabib Nurmagomedov and the challenges that come with participating in high-profile, first-time events like the UFC White House card.
