Islam Makhachev looks to make his return to action in March.
MMA Fighting confirmed with sources with knowledge of the prospective matchup that Makhachev (18-1) is in talks to fight Drew Dober (23-9, 1 NC) in a lightweight bout at UFC 259 on March 6, following in initial report by ESPN.
Makhachev was unable to step into the cage in 2021, with the COVID-19 pandemic throwing a wrench into the lightweight contender’s plans. He was scheduled to fight Alexander Hernandez at a pay-per-view event April only to see that show canceled due to the pandemic (Makhachev also faced visa issues related to COVID-19).