Islam Makhachev Hints At UFC Retirement In The Near Future
Islam Makhachev will not be back in action until mid-2027 and when he does return the UFC welterweight champion will only have a few fights left. Many expected Makhachev to defend his UFC welterweight title against knockout ace Carlos Prates at UFC 336 this coming January, but the pound-for-pound king simply wasn’t going to be […]
Islam Makhachev, the reigning UFC Welterweight Champion, has hinted at an impending retirement in the near future. The champion is set to return in mid-2027, signaling that he has only a few fights left in his storied career. Initially, Makhachev was slated to defend his title against knockout specialist Carlos Prates at UFC 336.
However, due to the champion's unavailability, an interim title fight between Prates and Michael Morales was set to co-headline the event. Makhachev has expressed his desire to face the more deserving contender between Prates and Morales after Ramadan. The postponement of his UFC 336 title defense could be attributed to an injury or Makhachev's intention to play out the final few bouts of his career.
The UFC star confirmed during a post on social media that his next fight is "one of the last in my career," indicating his desire to make a significant impact in that bout. While Makhachev faces off against Prates in January, he has acknowledged that Prates is too dangerous, and Morales is too good for him. Consequently, Makhachev aims to face the best of them and prove once again that he is the best in the world.
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