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Islam Makhachev Teases UFC Retirement, Wants the Best Contenders in His Potential Farewell Stretch

UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev has hinted at nearing the end of his elite career, signaling he wants to face only the toughest remaining competition before retiring. In a recent social media post, the Dagestani star—who also holds a lightweight title and sits atop the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings—stated his next fight could be among his last, emphasizing his desire to settle the welterweight contender debate between Carlos Prates and Michael Morales.

Makhachev, undefeated since 2015 and with a record-setting 17-fight UFC win streak, previously vacated his lightweight title to move up to welterweight, where he defeated Jack Della Maddalena in November 2025 to claim the belt. His decision to pull out of a planned January 2027 title defense against Prates sparked backlash, leading the UFC to instead book Prates and Morales for an interim welterweight championship bout in Toronto.

Makhachev’s dominance spans two divisions, including four successful lightweight title defenses against top-tier opponents like Alexander Volkanovski and Dustin Poirier, cementing his legacy as one of the sport’s greatest champions.

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