TRENDING NFL injury tracker live updates Ja out at least 4 weeks New head for D-Wade statue Brewers' championship parade Fantasy Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Story by Story by Islam Makhachev teases nearing retirement: ‘My next fight is one of the last in my career’ Islam Makhachev | (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) Jed Meshew Fri, October 30, 2026 at 10:00 PM UTC · 2 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Islam Makhachev says he won't be around much longer.
Widely viewed as the top pound-for-pound fighter in MMA and one of the greatest of all time, Makhachev has nonetheless faced considerable backlash over the past few weeks after news broke that Makhachev will not be defending his UFC welterweight title until after Ramadan next year.
Makhachev was rumored to be defending the title against Carlos Prates in January — something the champion called for after his successful title defense against Ian Machado Garry in August — but those plans fell through. Instead, Prates now faces Michael Morales for an interim belt, much to the consternation of UFC CEO Dana White and many MMA fans.
On Friday, Makhachev seemingly responded to the backlash, posting a message to his social media that suggests that the welterweight champion is just about ready to hang up his gloves.
My next fight is one of the last in my career.
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.
At 35 years old, Makhachev has accomplished just about everything there is to accomplish in MMA. He is one of only four fighters to ever win and defend titles in multiple UFC weight classes, and would become only the second fighter ever, and the first male fighter, to record multiple successful title defenses in multiple weight classes, should he defend his belt against the winner of the Prates vs. Morales fight.
Prates and Morales fight each other in the co-main event of UFC 336 on Jan. 30 in Toronto.
Source: Sports
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