Islam Makhachev says his next fight will rank among the final ones of his career. The UFC welterweight champion is waiting to see who wins the interim title fight between Carlos Prates and Michael Morales before he schedules his return.
A Statement Posted to X
Makhachev posted on X that his next fight would be one of the last of his career. He wrote that he wants to face the best of the two welterweight contenders, after hearing that Carlos Prates is considered too dangerous for him and Michael Morales too good for him. In an interview with the Russian outlet pound4padel, he said Prates and Morales need to settle their own rivalry before a true No. 1 contender steps forward. He pointed out that he already beat Ian Machado Garry, the fighter who beat Prates in April 2025, and argued that a Prates win would put Morales directly in line regardless. Makhachev had never discussed the end of his career this directly before, after years of saying he wants to surpass the record of his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov, who retired undefeated in 29 fights.
The Fight That Will Decide His Next Opponent
The UFC has booked Carlos Prates against Michael Morales for the interim welterweight title on January 30 at UFC 336 in Toronto. UFC president Dana White confirmed Makhachev will not appear on that card. White said a division cannot stay frozen waiting on a champion, after Makhachev made clear he wanted to push his return back until after Ramadan. White had said in October that Makhachev was still slated to defend on January 30, before the champion asked to wait and fight the winner of an interim bout instead of either contender on his own. The promoter said divisions have to keep moving even when a reigning champion wants to slow down how often he fights.
Two Contenders, Two Different Paths
Carlos Prates, a Brazilian fighter, carries a 24-7 record. He strung together knockout wins over Geoff Neal, Leon Edwards and Jack Della Maddalena before losing a decision to Ian Machado Garry in April 2025. Michael Morales, an unbeaten Ecuadorian fighter at 19-0, finished Gilbert Burns and then Sean Brady, who was the No. 1-ranked welterweight at the time, by first-round TKO in November 2025. Prates responded publicly to Makhachev’s delay, saying he would beat Morales and then come looking for the champion himself. Both men built their case for a title shot almost entirely on first-round finishes, which is part of why Makhachev describes either matchup as dangerous: Prates can end a fight with one shot standing, while Morales has shown he can do the same against far more experienced opposition.
A Record Already Written Into UFC History
Makhachev won his first UFC title by submitting Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 in October 2022, at lightweight (155 pounds, 70 kg). He moved up to welterweight (170 pounds, 77 kg) and beat Jack Della Maddalena for the title in November 2025, then made his first defense against Ian Machado Garry in August 2026, stretching his winning streak to 17 fights, the longest in UFC history. Before that fight, he said he wanted to push the streak to 20 straight wins so no one would ever break his record. Our UFC rankings page tracks his current spot atop the pound-for-pound list, across every weight class. Since that win over Oliveira, Makhachev has not lost a single fight, averaging roughly one bout every nine months, a pace he attributes to the shortage of opponents who can genuinely threaten him.
A Comeback Waiting on Ramadan
Makhachev, 35, plans to observe Ramadan in February and early March before considering a return in the second quarter of 2027. Prates responded to the delay on social media, promising to beat Morales on January 30 and then come back to, in his words, retire Makhachev. The champion has defended his title only once this year, and the new timeline pushes back any matchup with the winner of the interim fight, whether that turns out to be Prates or Morales. That gap also gives Prates and Morales time to build their case with fans and media before January, since whoever wins in Toronto will not get a title shot of his own until Makhachev is ready to fight again.
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