Makhachev Says Next UFC Fight Is One of His Last — SkimNews
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- Islam Makhachev, the two-division UFC champion with a record number of lightweight title defenses, wrote on social media that his next fight is “one of the last” in his career.
- UFC scheduled Carlos Prates and Michael Morales to fight for the interim welterweight championship at UFC 336 in Toronto on Jan. 30; Makhachev said he wants to face the best of them.
- Dana White said UFC initially planned for Makhachev to defend his title at UFC 336 but pivoted to the interim title fight because Makhachev wanted to wait until after Ramadan.
- Islam Makhachev fought in August and was considered able to fight again in spring, while UFC typically creates an interim title when a champion is unavailable for one year or indefinitely; fans were confused by the mismatch.
- Carlos Ulberg, the UFC light heavyweight champion, tore his ACL in April, yet the promotion had not booked an interim title fight in that division.
- Khabib Nurmagomedov publicly warned fighters about hanging onto glory once they reach 35; Makhachev celebrated his 35th birthday in late October and would be closer to 36 at his next competition.
Why it matters: UFC’s Jan. 30 card gives Carlos Prates and Michael Morales an interim welterweight title while pushing Makhachev’s planned title defense until after Ramadan. That departure from the promotion’s usual one-year-or-indefinite absence benchmark also contrasts with its handling of ACL-injured light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg.
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