UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev has announced that his upcoming return to the Octagon will rank among the final appearances of his illustrious career.
The 35-year-old Russian fighter secured his status atop the welterweight division in August by defeating Ian Machado Garry, extending his winning streak to 17 consecutive victories inside the promotion. That victory allowed Makhachev, a former lightweight world champion, to eclipse Anderson Silva’s longstanding 13-year record for the longest winning streak in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Looking ahead, Makhachev stated his intention to face the winner of the upcoming interim title fight between Brazil’s Carlos Prates and Ecuador’s Michael Morales, who are scheduled to meet at UFC 336 on January 30. Makhachev views the matchup as an opportunity to silence critics and cement his legacy.
“My next fight is one of the last in my career,” Makhachev said. “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.”
The division’s scheduling has faced friction, however. UFC president Dana White revealed that Makhachev was initially slated to defend his belt against Prates in January, but the champion chose to delay his return until after Ramadan in March. White noted that the decision prompted him to establish an interim title bout between Prates and Morales because he felt Makhachev’s timeline was “holding up the division.”
Despite the scheduling dispute, Makhachev has characterized the upcoming bout between Prates and Morales as a crucial test to determine “the true worthy contender” for his crown.
Makhachev boasts a professional record of 29 wins in 30 fights, cementing his status among the greatest competitors in mixed martial arts history. In August, White remarked that the Russian star was “on the right path” toward being regarded as the absolute greatest fighter in the history of the promotion.
His prospective challengers bring formidable momentum into the division. Prates, 33, has secured victories in his last three outings via knockout, while 27-year-old Morales carries an undefeated professional record of 19 wins.
