UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev has announced that his upcoming appearance inside the Octagon will rank among the final bouts of his professional career.
Record-Breaking Streak and Retirement Thoughts
The 35-year-old Russian fighter secured his welterweight title defense in August by defeating Ian Machado Garry, marking his 17th consecutive victory in the UFC. This historic triumph allowed Makhachev, a former lightweight world champion, to surpass Anderson Silva’s 13-year-old record for the longest winning streak in the organization’s history. Widely considered one of the greatest competitors in the sport, Makhachev holds 29 victories across 30 total fights.
Looking toward his next appearance, Makhachev stated that his next fight is one of the last in his career. He expressed his desire to face the winner of the upcoming interim welterweight championship bout between Brazil’s Carlos Prates and Ecuador’s Michael Morales, which is scheduled for UFC 336 on January 30. Regarding the prospective opponents, Makhachev noted that critics view Prates as too dangerous and Morales as too good, prompting his goal to face the winner and prove his status as the best in the world. He further remarked that the upcoming match between Prates and Morales will determine the true worthy contender.
UFC Leadership Response
UFC president Dana White previously stated that Makhachev was initially slated to defend his championship against Prates in January, but the champion chose to postpone his return until after Ramadan in March. White expressed his view that Makhachev was holding up the division, which led to the decision to establish the interim matchup between Prates and Morales. Despite the scheduling friction, White acknowledged back in August that Makhachev remains on the right path toward securing recognition as the greatest fighter in the history of the promotion.
The interim title contenders present formidable challenges, with the 33-year-old Prates coming off three consecutive knockout victories and the 27-year-old Morales maintaining an undefeated professional record of 19 wins.
