Islam Makhachev's decision to pull out of negotiations for a UFC 336 title defense has not gone down well with a chunk of the fan base, and now the champion is adding fuel to the fire by teasing retirement and saying he wants the best available contenders if this really is his farewell stretch. That's notable given where Makhachev sits right now: he most recently beat Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision on August 15, 2026, and he rates a 1629 on our Elo build from seven bouts at welterweight. Prates didn't take the news quietly. In an October 24 Instagram statement, he questioned Makhachev's readiness after the UFC moved to book an interim title fight in the champion's absence. That interim fight is now set. Our own model has it closer than the odds suggest, giving Prates just a 59 percent edge.
Sources (3)
We summarise the day's news in our own words. Full credit to the outlets below for the original reporting, click through to read their work.
- Islam Makhachev Teases UFC Retirement, Wants the Best Contenders in His Potential Farewell Stretch (Yahoo Sports)
- Carlos Prates Questions Makhachev’s Readiness In UFC 336 Instagram Statement (MiddleEasy)
- Islam Makhachev gets surprising supporter in Colby Covington after ditching UFC 336 title fight (BJPENN.com)
This story ran in the November 2, 2026 edition of the daily show.