UFC champion Islam Makhachev says his next fight will be ‘one of last’

What the report says

UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev has suggested that he may be nearing the end of his mixed martial arts career. In a post on X, the Russian-born Dagestani fighter said his next bout could be “one of the last” fights of his career, according to Al Jazeera’s report dated October 31, 2026.

The article says Makhachev, who is widely regarded as one of the UFC’s top fighters, wants to face the winner of the upcoming interim welterweight title fight between Carlos Prates and Michael Morales. That bout is scheduled for January 30, 2027, in Toronto, Canada, as part of UFC 336. Makhachev said he wants to test himself against the winner to show “who is the best,” while also describing the matchup as a way to determine the most deserving contender.

Al Jazeera reported that Makhachev last defended his title in August 2026, when he defeated Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision in Philadelphia. That victory extended his winning streak to 17 fights and moved him past Anderson Silva’s UFC record, according to the article. UFC CEO Dana White also said Makhachev had originally been expected to defend his belt earlier, but chose to wait until after Ramadan in 2027 before returning.