Islam Makhachev has made it clear that retirement isn’t on his mind just yet. When longtime UFC commentator Joe Rogan suggested that Makhachev could potentially walk away from MMA following a victory over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330, the welterweight champion quickly dismissed the idea.
Makhachev turns 35 in October, but the two-division UFC champion has shown little indication that age is slowing him down. He followed his move to welterweight by capturing the 170-pound title and recently extended his UFC winning streak to a record 17 victories with his unanimous decision win over Garry.
Despite taking some damage to his face during the UFC 330 main event, Makhachev dropped Garry with a head kick in the second round and relied on his elite grappling to control much of the contest.
While Makhachev has already accomplished more than enough to secure his place among the greatest fighters in UFC history, he believes there are still plenty of challenges waiting for him at welterweight.
Speaking to reporters in Russia after UFC 330, Makhachev explained that he still has his sights set on adding to his record and taking on the best contenders in the division.
Rather than walking away after reaching the top, Makhachev believes he has at least three more difficult fights ahead of him.
“Well, I wouldn’t call it unbreakable by any means,” Makhachev said. “There are fighters out there, not exactly breathing down my neck, but there are those that already have 10 wins [in a row]. I don’t know, maybe the title fights record? Though the record for title fights is quite large. I fought 10 bouts before getting the title, while the record holder fought for the title in his third or fourth fight.
“So I don’t know what records will come next, but in my weight class I have some very good title contenders. I think I have at least three more spectacular and very tough fights for me.”
That should put an end to any immediate speculation about Makhachev retiring. The champion still sees plenty of meaningful challenges at 170 pounds, and he appears determined to face them before calling time on his career.
Carlos Prates currently looks like one of the strongest candidates to challenge Makhachev next. Prates and Michael Morales both attended UFC 330 in Philadelphia to watch the champion defend his belt.
Makhachev has already made his preference known. He wants Prates next, while he believes Morales needs another fight to establish himself as the clear No. 1 contender.
Morales has a strong case of his own after stopping Sean Brady in November 2025, while Shavkat Rakhmonov remains another major name in the division despite his lengthy absence because of injuries.
For now, the UFC has yet to officially announce Makhachev’s next opponent.
