UFC star Islam Makhachev's next fight will be 'one of the last'

UFC champion Islam Makhachev has indicated that his next fight will be among his final contests. After securing his welterweight title by defeating Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision in August, Makhachev has now set his sights on the victor of the bout between Brazil's Carlos Prates and Ecuador's Michael Morales for the interim welterweight championship at UFC 336 in January.

"My next fight is one of the last in my career," Makhachev declared on social media. "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 the world." At 35, Makhachev has also hinted at his advancing age, stating that he is no longer a young fighter.

"I'm not like a young guy anymore," he told UFC Hall of Famer Demetrious Johnson. "Now it's better for me to fight every three to four months. I understand I'm not 28 years old; I'm 34 right now. And I don't have much time left." UFC president Dana White explained that Makhachev's reduced competition schedule was the reason behind the interim title fight at UFC 336.

"On average, Islam fights like once a year," White said. "He was slated for January and then said, 'I don't want to fight until after Ramadan,' and you can't hold up divisions like this. You've got to keep moving, and this fight makes sense. No reason."