AnswersPublished16 sources
Islam Makhachev’s Retirement Hint: What His ‘One of the Last’ Fight Means
On October 30, 2026, Islam Makhachev said his next title defense would be “one of the last” of his career—not that it would definitely be his final fight. The UFC booked Prates vs.
Published byEdited with GPT-6 LunaImages generated with GPT Image 2
Research answer
Key takeaways
- On October 30, 2026, Islam Makhachev said his next title defense would be “one of the last” of his career—not that it would definitely be his final fight.
- The UFC booked Prates vs. Morales for the interim welterweight title at UFC 336 on January 30 in Toronto after Makhachev said he would wait until after Ramadan; Dana White said the division could not wait.
AI Prompt
openai.comCreate a landscape editorial hero image for this Studio Global article: What did 35-year-old UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev (29-1) reveal on X on October 30, 2026, about his next title defense being am. Article summary: Islam Makhachev said on October 30 that his next welterweight title defense would be “one of the last” fights of his career, and he wanted to face the winner of Carlos Prates–Michael Morales rather than announce an immed. Topic tags: general, general web, user generated. Style: premium digital editorial illustration, source-backed research mood, clean composition, high detail, modern web publication hero. Use reference image context only for broad subject, composition, and topical grounding; do not copy the exact image. Avoid: logos, brand marks, copyrighted characters, real person likenesses, fake screenshots, UI text, readable text, watermarks, charts with fa
Islam Makhachev has hinted that his UFC career is entering its final stretch, but he has not announced a retirement date or said his next bout will be his last. On October 30, 2026, the welterweight champion said his next title defense would be “one of the last” fights of his career and said he wanted to face the winner of Carlos Prates vs. Michael Morales. 5
16
That matchup is tied to a scheduling dispute: Makhachev is expected to return after Ramadan, while Prates and Morales are set to fight for an interim title in January. 1
5
What Makhachev said about his next fight
In his post on X, Makhachev wrote: “My next fight is one of the last in my career.” He added that people called Prates too dangerous and Morales too good, and said he wanted to face the best of the two to prove again that he was the best in the world. 39
His statement points toward a matchup with whoever wins the interim title fight, rather than an immediate farewell. ESPN reported that Makhachev was expected to fight the winner and target a return in the second quarter of 2027, after observing Ramadan in February and early March. That is an expected timeline, not a confirmed fight date or booked opponent. 5
Why Prates and Morales are fighting for an interim title
Makhachev had been expected to defend his title against Prates at UFC 336, but he declined the January date and said he would wait until after Ramadan. Dana White said the division could not be held up while the champion waited, so the UFC booked Prates against Morales for the interim welterweight belt. 25
The fight is scheduled for January 30, 2027, in Toronto. Makhachev’s position was that neither contender had established himself as the clear next challenger, so Prates and Morales should fight first; he would then face the winner. 1
44
The interim bout creates a route to a later title fight, but the supplied reports describe Makhachev’s next opponent as expected—not officially confirmed. 5
25
Does ‘one of the last’ mean retirement is imminent?
Not necessarily. Makhachev’s wording suggests he believes he has a limited number of fights left, but he did not specify how many, set a retirement date, or say the next bout would be his final appearance. 16
The clearest reading is that he wants a high-stakes fight with the Prates–Morales winner as he approaches the end of his career. For now, both his next opponent and the timing of his return remain dependent on the interim title fight and his post-Ramadan schedule. 5
16
Studio Global AI
Continue your research
This page includes a source-backed answer you can continue inside Studio Global.
People also ask
What is the short answer to "Islam Makhachev’s Retirement Hint: What His ‘One of the Last’ Fight Means"?
On October 30, 2026, Islam Makhachev said his next title defense would be “one of the last” of his career—not that it would definitely be his final fight.
What are the key points to validate first?
On October 30, 2026, Islam Makhachev said his next title defense would be “one of the last” of his career—not that it would definitely be his final fight. The UFC booked Prates vs. Morales for the interim welterweight title at UFC 336 on January 30 in Toronto after Makhachev said he would wait until after Ramadan; Dana White said the division could not wait.
Sources
espn.comIslam Makhachev -- 'My next fight is one of the last in my ...
lowkickmma.comIslam Makhachev Reveals UFC Retirement Plan: 'My Next Fight Is One of the Last'
sports.ndtv.com"I'll Fight The Winner": Islam Makhachev Reveals Why He Wants Carlos Michael Prates To Fight Morales
x.comMakhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) ...