Islam Makhachev says he is close to the end of his career and that his mother, who has always opposed his fighting, may have the final say on when he retires. In an interview with Red Corner MMA published on November 6, he said: "I've always listened to my mother, so soon I will obey her word."
What Makhachev said
According to MMA Fighting and Yahoo Sports, Makhachev spoke to Red Corner MMA at the Sambo World Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. "My mother has always been against me fighting," he said.
He did not name a date or a number of fights. "There's no number," Makhachev said. "I am just reaching the finish line." He also said he lacks motivation from new opponents: "I just want to fight the contenders, but I don't see any new names."
The comments echo the path of his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov, who retired in October 2020 after beating Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. Nurmagomedov finished his career at 29-0 and cited a promise to his mother. Makhachev has said before that his mother wanted him to follow that example, but this is the first time he has suggested the decision may come soon.
The title picture
Makhachev, 35, is 29-1 and ranked number one in Pugna MMA's men's pound-for-pound list. He won a five-round unanimous decision over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330: Makhachev vs. Machado Garry on August 15, 2026 in Philadelphia, his first defense of the welterweight title. Sources also attribute to him the lightweight record of four consecutive title defenses, and Yahoo Sports reports a 17-fight winning streak that began after his loss to Adriano Martins in 2015.
The UFC has booked Carlos Prates against Michael Morales for the interim welterweight title at UFC 336: Van vs. Kape on January 30, 2027 in Toronto. Yahoo Sports reports that Makhachev had been expected to defend against Prates in January but is not fighting on that card. Prates, 24-7, is ranked first in our welterweight rankings and Morales, 19-0, is ranked third.
Makhachev said both men deserve the shot, but played down the threat they pose. "I wouldn't say either of them is a threat for me. I am a bad matchup for them stylistically," he said, adding that "we'll find out in January."
What comes next
Makhachev has not said when his last fight will be. According to Yahoo Sports, his next challenger will be the winner of Prates vs. Morales. Machado Garry, ranked second at welterweight, is booked in Pugna MMA's database to face Yaroslav Amosov at UFC 335: Oliveira vs. Lopes on December 12, 2026.
Whether "soon" means one more defense or several is unclear, and no announcement has been made by Makhachev or the UFC.
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Sources
This article was generated with AI and may contain errors.