Islam Makhachev Signals Impending Retirement: Next Fight to Be One of His Last

UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev has indicated that his fighting career is nearing its end, stating that his upcoming bout will be among his final appearances in the octagon. In August, Makhachev solidified his standing as a premier MMA fighter by securing a unanimous decision victory over Ian Machado Garry, successfully defending his welterweight title. This win marked his 17th consecutive triumph, breaking Anderson Silva's 13-year-old record for the longest win streak in UFC history.

Makhachev is now focused on the winner of the interim welterweight title fight between Brazil's Carlos Prates and Ecuador's Michael Morales, scheduled for UFC 336 in January. "My next fight is one of the last in my career," the Dagestani fighter announced on social media. "They say Prates is too dangerous for me and Morales is too good for me. So I want to face the best of them and prove to the world once again who is the best in world."

The 35-year-old fighter had previously alluded to his limited time left in the sport. "I'm not like young guy. Now it's better for me to fight every three to four months," Makhachev shared with UFC Hall of Famer Demetrious Johnson. "I understand I'm not 28 years old; I'm 34 right now. And I don't have much time. Sometimes it's not going like you want in the UFC. You want to fight after three or four months, but it's not according to your wish."

UFC president Dana White explained that Makhachev's infrequent fighting schedule was the reason for the interim title bout. "On average, Islam fights like once a year," White stated. "He was slated for January and then said, 'I don't want to fight until after Ramadan,' and you can't hold up divisions like this. You got to keep moving, and this fight makes sense. No reason."