UFC champion Makhachev hints at retirement after next fight

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 31 Oct, 11:30 · Archive

UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev says his next fight will be 'one of the last' of his career.

Islam Makhachev, the UFC's reigning welterweight champion, has signalled that his next fight will mark the beginning of the end of his mixed martial arts career. The 35-year-old Russian wants to face the winner of an interim welterweight title bout between Carlos Prates and Michael Morales, scheduled for 30 January at UFC 336 in Toronto. '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,' Makhachev said.

Makhachev defended his welterweight title in August by defeating Ian Machado Garry via unanimous decision. That victory extended his winning streak to 17 consecutive UFC fights, surpassing Anderson Silva's previous record of 16 consecutive wins set between 2006 and 2013. Makhachev has won 29 of his 30 professional fights and is regarded as one of the best fighters in UFC history.

UFC president Dana White said Makhachev was originally scheduled to defend his belt against Prates in January but chose to delay fighting until after Ramadan in March. White created the interim title bout between Prates and Morales to address concerns that Makhachev was 'holding up the division'. Prates, 33, has won his last three fights by knockout, whilst Morales, 27, has won all 19 of his professional fights.

How it is being reported

• UFC champion Islam Makhachev says his next fight will be ‘one of last’Makhachev, one of the best fighters in UFC history, wants to face the winner of next year's Prates vs Morales fight.Al Jazeera · 31 Oct, 11:02
• UFC champion Makhachev confirms retirement plansUFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev says his next fight will be "one of the last" of his illustrious career.BBC Sport · 30 Oct, 21:45

In this story: Islam Makhachev · Carlos Prates · Michael Morales · Ian Machado Garry · Anderson Silva · Dana White · UFC · Toronto

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