Uros Medic Says Islam Makhachev May Retire Within a Year or Two, Ahead of UFC 334

Uros Medic says he wouldn't mind seeing Islam Makhachev walk away from the sport, and he believes the welterweight champion may be closer to the exit than most assume. Speaking on the BYM Podcast ahead of his UFC 334 fight with Kevin Holland, the Serbian-born contender said he is "a little tired of watching Islam Makhachev winning at the top."

Medic praised both Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov for their dominance and admitted it could take years for anyone to match their level. He described Makhachev as "a smart fella" and suggested fans might see him compete for roughly another year, perhaps one or two more fights.

Medic's own run

Medic, 33, is 14-3 and ranked 12th at welterweight. He arrives at UFC 334 on a three-fight winning streak, and all three wins came by first-round knockout or TKO: Muslim Salikhov in November 2025, Geoff Neal in February 2026 and Daniel Rodriguez on August 1, 2026, his most recent recorded fight. A southpaw fighting out of Kings MMA, he lands 5.59 significant strikes per minute at 60 percent accuracy.

Holland, also 33, is 29-15 and fights out of Phalanx MMA Academy. The six-foot-three Texan has an 81-inch reach, ten inches longer than Medic's 71 inches, and lands 4.26 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy. His most recent recorded fight was a unanimous decision win over Randy Brown on April 11, 2026, which followed back-to-back decision losses to Mike Malott and Daniel Rodriguez.

The champion in question

Makhachev, 35, is 29-1 and holds the welterweight title. The Russian southpaw from Eagles MMA most recently beat Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision over five rounds at UFC 330 in August 2026, following a five-round decision over Jack Della Maddalena in November 2025. He averages 3.22 takedowns per 15 minutes with 58 percent striking accuracy.

Why it matters

• Medic is on a knockout streak and speaks openly about wanting to see the champion's reign end, though he did not frame it as a challenge to a title fight.
• Retirement talk about a champion who is 35 and still winning title fights adds a timeline to the welterweight division's future.
• UFC 334 gives Medic a chance to extend his streak against an opponent with a ten-inch reach advantage.

Kalshi currently gives Medic a 58 percent chance of beating Holland, according to the post that circulated with the interview clip.