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Title Picturevia ESPN MMA

Islam Makhachev Says His Next Fight Could Be One of His Last

Islam Makhachev, ESPN's number one pound-for-pound fighter and the UFC welterweight champion, says fans shouldn't expect to see him around much longer, suggesting his next outing will rank among the final fights of his career.

Illustration: a fighter stands in the center of a cage, looking contemplative
Illustration by Open Scoring MMA. Generated art, not a photograph, and not a likeness of any real fighter.

Islam Makhachev, ESPN's number one pound-for-pound fighter and the UFC welterweight champion, says fans shouldn't expect to see him around much longer, suggesting his next outing will rank among the final fights of his career. The champ won't be back in action until mid-2027, and the timeline has already drawn backlash since many expected him to defend the welterweight title against Carlos Prates at UFC 336 in January instead of waiting until after Ramadan.

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This story ran in the October 31, 2026 edition of the daily show.