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Islam Makhachev says his next fight will be 'one of the last' in his UFC career
Confirmed
In Short: Russian MMA fighter Islam Makhachev announced on X that his next fight will be one of his last in his UFC career.
Islam Makhachev, the UFC welterweight champion, said on X that his next fight will be one of the last in his career. Makhachev, who has a record of 29 wins and one loss, successfully defended his title in August, defeating Ian Machado Garry in Philadelphia.
Makhachev's announcement comes after he extended his winning streak to 17 consecutive fights, surpassing Anderson Silva's record of 16 fights set from 2006 to 2013. The 35-year-old fighter plans to observe Ramadan in February and early March 2027 before returning to the ring in the second quarter of the year.
UFC CEO Dana White had initially scheduled Makhachev to defend his title against Carlos Prates in January, but Makhachev opted to wait for the winner of an interim title bout between Prates and Morales. Prates, who has won his last three fights by knockout, and Morales, who has won all 19 of his professional fights, will face each other for the interim welterweight championship at UFC 336 in Toronto.
Makhachev's decision to retire is not new. Earlier this year, he stated he would only fight three more times, aiming for a 20-fight win streak. He has already broken Silva's record with his 17th straight victory, defeating Ian Machado Garry in August.
Makhachev's mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, also retired at the height of his career, and Makhachev is following a similar path. He has defended the lightweight title twice since capturing it in 2022, defeating Alexander Volkanovski and submitting Dustin Poirier.
Makhachev's next opponent remains unannounced, though Arman Tsarukyan is a leading contender after his back-to-back wins at 155 pounds. Makhachev's statement on X clarified his stance: 'My next fight is one of the last in my career. 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 the world,' he wrote.
Makhachev's decision to retire is significant, as he is widely regarded as one of the best fighters in UFC history. His retirement will impact the top-ranked UFC welterweights, who must now prepare for the possibility of facing a new champion.
Makhachev's announcement highlights the respect and admiration he has earned in the MMA community. His decision to retire on his own terms, following the lead of his friend and teammate Khabib Nurmagomedov, underscores his status as one of the greatest fighters in the sport's history.
What this adds
Makhachev's announcement on X was widely reported and discussed across multiple outlets, indicating the significance of his decision to retire.
What's confirmed
- “My next fight is one of the last in my career,” the Russian MMA fighter said on X on Friday night.
- “My next fight is one of the last in my career. 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,” Makhachev wrote on his X.
What's still developing
- At 35 years old, Makhachev has accomplished just about everything there is to accomplish in MMA.
- Widely viewed as the top pound-for-pound fighter in MMA and one of the greatest of all time, Makhachev has nonetheless faced considerable backlash over the past few weeks after news broke that Makhachev will not be defending his UFC welterweight title until after Ramadan next year.
- Islam Makhachev is expected to return after Ramadan 2027 for his last dance and, by law, will face the soon-to-be crowned interim 170-pound titleholder to unify the belts.
- Makhachev described claims that Prates presents too much danger and that Morales is too good for him, then said he wants the better of the pair to demonstrate his standing.
- He opened his statement with a clear assessment of where he stands: “My next fight is one of the last in my career.” That is not an announcement that his very next appearance will be a farewell.
- The rest of the message addressed the argument over his next challenger.
- UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev revealed shocking career news on a social media post on Friday afternoon.
- Makhachev picked up his first title -- the UFC lightweight belt -- by submitting Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 in October of 2022.