Reigning UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev just dropped a massive bomb on social media, claiming his next fight is gonna be “one of the last in my career.” Yeah, you read that right. He’s looking to unify welterweight titles with the winner of an interim championship bout, and then it sounds like he’s out.
The Champ’s Final Act?
Makhachev clearly doesn’t see himself competing in mixed martial arts much longer. The guy is already a two-division UFC champion, holds a record number of lightweight title defenses, and now he’s gunning for one more elite welterweight scalp before he calls it quits. He wrote on social media, straight up saying, “My next fight is one of the last in my career.” He didn’t stop there, adding, “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.” Talk about laying it all out there.
What’s Up With That Interim Belt?
This whole situation gets even wilder when you look at the UFC’s latest move. Carlos Prates and Michael Morales are scheduled to fight for an *interim* welterweight championship at UFC 336 in Toronto on Jan. 30. Makhachev has been unusually active on social media since the promotion booked this interim fight, and honestly, who can blame him? UFC CEO Dana White explained that the company had planned for Makhachev to defend his title at UFC 336, but pivoted to the interim fight because Makhachev wanted to wait until after Ramadan.
Now, fans are super enthusiastic about Prates vs. Morales, but they’re also understandably confused about why an interim title was even introduced. In most cases, an interim title is only created when the champion is unavailable for a year or indefinitely. Makhachev fought in August and could perfectly well fight again in the spring. For comparison, look at UFC light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg, who tore his ACL in April, yet the promotion hasn’t booked an interim title fight in his division. It just doesn’t add up for a lot of us watching.
This whole “one of the last” revelation comes as Makhachev celebrated his 35th birthday in late October. He’ll likely be closer to 36 when he steps into the Octagon next. His mentor, the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov, publicly warned fighters about hanging onto glory once they hit 35. It looks like Makhachev is taking that advice to heart, maybe even a little earlier than expected.
So, get ready for UFC 336 on Jan. 30. That Prates vs. Morales fight isn’t just for an interim belt, it’s for the chance to face a welterweight king who’s clearly looking to make one last, definitive statement before he hangs up the gloves. This is gonna be absolutely wild.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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