UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev has revealed that his next fight could be one of the final bouts of his professional career.
The 35-year-old Russian last fought in August, when he defeated Ian Machado Garry to defend the welterweight title and extend his winning streak to 17 consecutive fights.
The victory also saw Makhachev break Anderson Silva’s long-standing record for the longest winning streak in UFC history, which stood at 16 consecutive victories.
A former lightweight champion, Makhachev now wants to face the winner of the upcoming interim welterweight title fight between Brazil’s Carlos Prates and Ecuador’s Michael Morales.
The two fighters are scheduled to meet at UFC 336 on January 30.
“My next fight is one of the last in my career,” Makhachev wrote on his X account. “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 the world.”
UFC president Dana White previously revealed that Makhachev was initially scheduled to defend his title against Prates in January but decided to postpone the fight until after Ramadan in March.
White said that he believed Makhachev was holding up the welterweight division, prompting the promotion to arrange an interim title fight between Prates and Morales.
Makhachev later described the upcoming contest as a way to determine “the true worthy contender” for his championship.
Makhachev has won 29 of his 30 professional fights and remains one of the most successful fighters in UFC history. White previously praised his achievements, saying he was “on the right path” to becoming the greatest fighter in the promotion’s history.
Prates, 33, has won his last three fights by knockout, while 27-year-old Morales remains undefeated with 19 professional victories.
