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Makhachev Hints at Retirement After Next Fight
· Confirmed
In Short: Russian MMA fighter Islam Makhachev announced on X on Friday night that his next fight will be one of the last in his career, hinting at a potential retirement.
Russian MMA fighter Islam Makhachev announced on X on Friday night that his next fight will be one of the last in his career, hinting at a potential retirement. Makhachev, who is 35, successfully defended his UFC welterweight championship belt in August, defeating Ireland’s Ian Machado Garry via unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 330 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
With this victory, Makhachev extended his winning streak to 17 consecutive fights, surpassing UFC Hall of Famer Anderson Silva’s historic 16-fight mark set from 2006 to 2013. Makhachev’s next opponent remains unannounced, though Arman Tsarukyan has positioned himself as the leading contender after back-to-back wins at 155 pounds.
Makhachev’s announcement comes after he broke Anderson Silva's 13-year record for the longest win streak in UFC history with his 17th straight victory. UFC CEO Dana White had initially planned for Makhachev to defend his welterweight title against Carlos Prates in January, but Makhachev opted to wait for the winner of an interim title bout between Prates and Morales.
The top contenders will fight for the interim welterweight championship at UFC 336, scheduled to take place in Toronto on January 30, 2027. Makhachev told Russian outlet pound4padel, 'Prates and Morales will fight, determine who is the true, worthy contender and I will fight [the winner].' Makhachev, who is the reigning UFC Welterweight Champion, broke Anderson Silva's 13-year record for the longest win streak in UFC history with his 17th straight victory in his last fight when he defeated Ian Machado Garry.
Makhachev’s decision to retire is also something the top-ranked UFC welterweights must take note of. He has defended the lightweight strap twice since capturing it in 2022, finishing Alexander Volkanovski and submitting Dustin Poirier. Makhachev picked up his first title—the UFC lightweight belt—by submitting Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 in October of 2022.
Makhachev’s announcement has sparked considerable backlash over the past few weeks after news broke that he will not be defending his UFC welterweight title until after Ramadan next year. He 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’s retirement could come faster than originally anticipated, as he told the UFC he won’t be able to compete due to undisclosed reasons, and Prates will now face Michael Morales in an interim title fight. Makhachev is competing a little longer than his mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, wanted. Earlier this year, Khabib said he would only fight three more times in the sport as he wants to set a 20-fight win streak.
What this adds
Makhachev will observe the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in February and early March in 2027 before returning in the second quarter of the year. He 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.
Background
Makhachev’s retirement could come faster than originally anticipated, as he told the UFC he won’t be able to compete due to undisclosed reasons, and Prates will now face Michael Morales in an interim title fight, as reported by BJPenn.com.
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.
- Reigning UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev has hinted at an imminent retirement, saying his next fight will be “one of the last” of his mixed martial arts career.
What's still developing
- Makhachev, widely regarded as one of the best fighters in UFC history, will observe the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in February and early March in 2027 before returning in the second quarter of the year.
- At 35 years old, Makhachev has accomplished just about everything there is to accomplish in MMA.
- 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.
- Instead, he is choosing to go out on his own terms and follow the lead of his long-time friend and teammate, Khabib Nurmagomedov, who also retired at the height of his mixed martial arts career.
- Makhachev’s explanation is that the contenders should sort out the queue themselves.