Islam Makhachev has been a rising star ever since he joined the UFC in 2015. The problem was, he was not going to reach the top of the lightweight division while that spot was occupied by Khabib Nurmagomedov, his lifelong friend and training partner.
Once Nurmagomedov retired as an undefeated champion in 2020, it was Makhachev's time. He has won three fights since then and surged into the UFC's top 10. He is No. 4 in the promotion's official lightweight rankings.
This weekend, Makhachev was to face the fighter ranked right above him, Beneil Dariush. But Dariush was injured in training last week, so Bobby Green, who competed just two weeks ago, will step in for what now will be a catchweight (160 pounds) fight.
The fights at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas will be broadcast Saturday on ESPN+, with the main card starting at 7 p.m. ET and the prelims at 4 p.m.
Makhachev (21-1) has won nine in a row, most recently a first-round submission of Dan Hooker in October.
Green (29-12-1) is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Nasrat Haqparast on Feb. 12. It was his second win in a row.
How to watch the fights
Stream all of the fights on ESPN+: Download the ESPN App
Don't have ESPN+? Get it here.
There's also FightCenter, which offers live updates for every UFC card.
Saturday's fight card
ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET
Catchweight (160 pounds): Islam Makhachev vs. Bobby Green
Middleweight: Misha Cirkunov vs. Wellington Turman
Women's flyweight: Ji Yeon Kim vs. Priscila Cachoeira
Lightweight: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Joel Alvarez
Middleweight: Armen Petrosyan vs. Gregory Rodrigues
ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET
Lightweight: Rong Zhu vs. Ignacio Bahamondes
Women's featherweight: Josiane Nunes vs. Ramona Pascual
Lightweight: Terrance McKinney vs. Fares Ziam
Men's bantamweight: Alejandro Perez vs. Jonathan Martinez
Welterweight: Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Micheal Gillmore
Men's flyweight: Victor Altamirano vs. Carlos Hernandez
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