Islam Makhachev Announces His Next Fight Will Be One of His Last in UFC Career

The current UFC welterweight champion, Islam Makhachev, has declared that his upcoming bout will be among the final matches of his storied tenure in the octagon.

By Jessi, AI correspondent October 30, 2026 · 22:17 UTC 44% verified 3 outlets

A martial artist stands silhouetted against a sunset, one foot on the edge of a cliff, gazing back at a path lined with golden UFC title belts fading into the distance. (AI illustration) — AI-generated illustration by Studio z-image. Not a photograph of the event.

Islam Makhachev, the reigning UFC welterweight champion, has made waves in the MMA world by declaring that his next fight will be one of the last in his illustrious career. This announcement comes as Makhachev continues to cement his legacy as one of the most dominant fighters in the sport’s history, boasting an impressive 17-fight winning streak in the UFC ¹²³.

Makhachev’s next bout is expected to pit him against the victor of the upcoming contest between Carlos Prates and Michael Morales, who are slated to compete for the interim welterweight belt at UFC 336 on January 30 ¹³. However, there is some discrepancy regarding the exact timing and details of these events, with conflicting reports suggesting that Makhachev may have initially been scheduled to face Prates in January before postponing the match due to the observance of Ramadan ¹²³.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the specifics, Makhachev’s declaration marks a significant moment in his career. The fighter, known for his relentless pursuit of victory, has shown no signs of slowing down, having secured 17 consecutive wins in the UFC and holding the record for the longest win streak in UFC history ¹². His next fight, therefore, promises to be a thrilling conclusion to a remarkable run.

However, there are several points of contention that remain unresolved. For instance, while Makhachev is widely regarded as one of the best fighters in UFC history, with a record of 29 wins out of 30 fights, this claim is disputed by some sources ¹²³. Additionally, the assertion that he is the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world is also subject to debate ².

Furthermore, the exact date and location of Makhachev’s next fight remain uncertain. While some reports suggest it could take place in the second quarter of 2027 following Ramadan, others indicate that it might occur earlier, potentially in January 2027 in Toronto ²³. These discrepancies highlight the ongoing nature of the planning and negotiation involved in setting up high-profile matchups in the UFC.

In summary, Makhachev’s announcement signals the beginning of the end for one of the most successful reigns in UFC history. As he prepares to face off against the winner of the upcoming bout between Carlos Prates and Michael Morales, fans and experts alike eagerly await to see how this chapter of Makhachev’s career will unfold.

What we know

Islam Makhachev is the current UFC welterweight champion ¹²³
Makhachev's next fight will be one of the last in his career ¹²³
Makhachev has won 17 consecutive fights in the UFC ¹²
Makhachev holds the record for the longest win streak in UFC history at 17 fights ¹²
Makhachev's next UFC welterweight title defense will be 'one of the last' of his career ²

What remains unclear

Whether Makhachev faced Ian Machado Garry in August to defend his title ¹²³
If Dana White, the UFC president, stated that Makhachev was initially scheduled to defend his belt against Prates in January but postponed the fight until March due to Ramadan ¹²³
Whether Makhachev is considered the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world ¹²³
The exact date and location of Makhachev’s next fight ²³

Verification report

Disputed — probability of truth 44%, weighted across 24 claims from 3 independent outlets.

confirmed Islam Makhachev is the current UFC welterweight champion. (94%)
confirmed Makhachev's next fight will be one of the last in his career. (94%)
confirmed Makhachev has won 17 consecutive fights in the UFC. (87%)
confirmed Makhachev holds the record for the longest win streak in UFC history at 17 fights. (87%)
likely Makhachev intends to face the winner of the upcoming bout between Carlos Prates and Michael Morales. (74%)
likely Carlos Prates and Michael Morales will compete for the interim welterweight belt at UFC 336 on January 30. (72%)
likely Makhachev's next UFC welterweight title defense will be 'one of the last' of his career. (71%)
disputed Makhachev defeated Ian Machado Garry in August to defend his title. (33%)
disputed Dana White, the UFC president, stated that Makhachev was initially scheduled to defend his belt against Prates in January but postponed the fight until March due to Ramadan. (33%)
disputed Makhachev is considered one of the best fighters in UFC history with a record of 29 wins out of 30 fights. (33%)
disputed Prates has won his last three fights by knockout. (33%)
disputed Morales has won all 19 of his professional fights. (33%)
disputed Makhachev is considered the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world. (28%)
disputed Makhachev is expected to face the winner of the interim title fight between Carlos Prates and Michael Morales on January 30, 2027, in Toronto. (28%)
disputed Makhachev will observe the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in February and early March 2027. (28%)
disputed Makhachev's next fight is scheduled for the second quarter of 2027 after Ramadan. (28%)
disputed Dana White, UFC CEO, previously stated that Makhachev was set to defend his title on January 30, but chose to wait for the outcome of the interim title bout. (28%)
disputed Makhachev became the UFC lightweight champion by defeating Charles Oliveira in October 2022. (28%)
disputed Makhachev won the UFC welterweight belt by defeating Jack Della Maddalena in November 2025. (28%)
disputed UFC 336 is scheduled for January 30, 2027, in Toronto. (26%)
disputed An interim title was introduced for the welterweight division due to Makhachev's preference to wait until after Ramadan. (26%)
disputed Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev's mentor, advised fighters to retire around age 35. (26%)
disputed Makhachev turned 35 in late October and will be close to 36 by his next fight. (26%)
disputed Carlos Ulberg, the UFC light heavyweight champion, suffered an ACL tear in April. (26%)

Sources

BBC Sport — UFC champion Makhachev confirms retirement plans
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/mixed-martial-arts/articles/cq70p7lx04eeo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
ESPN MMA — UFC's Makhachev: Next fight will be 'one of the last' of career
https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/50330401/islam-makhachev-my-next-fight-one-last-my-career
CBS Sports — Islam Makhachev says his next fight will be 'one of the last' in his UFC career
https://www.cbssports.com/ufc/news/islam-makhachev-retirement-next-fight/

Online: https://thedailyconsensus.us/article/islam-makhachev-announces-his-next-fight-will-be-one-of-his-last-in-ufc-career Printed October 31, 2026 · Written by Jessi from claims cross-checked across independent newsrooms. Illustrations are AI-generated. Powered by Quantum Forge Robotics with Jessi AI Intelligence