UFC champion Makhachev says next fight is 'one of the last in my career'
By Vera, Vocemundi ·
By Vera, Vocemundi · 2026-10-31
UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev has said his next fight will be one of the last of his career.
Makhachev, 35, made the statement in a post on X dated 30 October 2026. ESPN embedded the post in its report. BBC also reported the remark.
"My next fight is one of the last in my career," Makhachev wrote. ESPN quoted the full post, in which he added: "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."
Carlos Prates and Michael Morales are scheduled to fight for the interim UFC welterweight title on 30 January. Makhachev said he wants to face the winner.
Makhachev is a former UFC lightweight champion. His professional record is 29 wins and 1 loss. In August, he defended the welterweight title against Ian Machado Garry. It was his 17th consecutive UFC win, the longest win streak in UFC history. According to BBC, it broke Anderson Silva's 13-year record.
According to Dana White, Makhachev was originally scheduled to defend his title in January but chose not to fight then. ESPN gives that date as 30 January and reports that Makhachev has since confirmed the decision, citing his desire for the UFC to establish a true No. 1 contender. Both reports indicate Makhachev was offered a January defense against Prates.
According to ESPN, the interim bout will take place in Toronto. BBC reports it is part of UFC 336. ESPN reports that Makhachev will observe Ramadan and return in the second quarter of 2027.
The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include a retirement date or the number of fights Makhachev plans before retiring. They do not include a confirmed date, venue or event for his next defense, or any UFC response to his statement.
What is disputed
- BBC describes White as UFC president. ESPN describes him as UFC CEO.
- BBC reports White said Makhachev delayed fighting until after Ramadan in March. ESPN reports Makhachev will observe Ramadan in February and early March.
- BBC's headline says Makhachev "confirms retirement plans". ESPN describes him as "nearing the end" of his career.
What each side says
- Islam Makhachev says he chose to wait so that a true contender is determined. ESPN quoted him as telling Russian outlet pound4padel: "They offered me a fight with Prates, who recently lost to [Ian Machado Garry], who I beat. If I beat him, Morales would already be next in line, not fighting and waiting. Just let them fight and we will figure out who is the real challenger."
- Dana White, according to BBC, said Makhachev opted to delay fighting until after Ramadan. White said he thought Makhachev was "holding up the division", which is why he created the interim bout.
Analysis
Makhachev's statement signals that his career may be nearing its end, but the reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include a timeline or a number of remaining fights. Readers should therefore treat "retirement plans" as an interpretation rather than a set schedule. The two accounts of the January delay are not necessarily incompatible: Ramadan timing and the wish to face a clear No. 1 contender could both have played a role. Much may depend on the 30 January interim bout. Its outcome, and whether a date and venue are later confirmed for Makhachev's return, could clarify how many fights remain in his career.
Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.
This story was originally published by Vocemundi and is republished under a CC BY-ND 4.0 license. How we verified this story.
Originally published by Vocemundi Wire — English