Islam Makhachev might be just ONE FIGHT away from RETIREMENT! The UFC welterweight champion has hinted that his next fight could be his last, revealing that his mother has always wanted him to stop fighting. 🗣️ “My mother has always been against me fighting. I’ve always listened to my mother, so soon I will obey her word.”
UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev has suggested his next fight could be the last of his career, saying he intends to follow his mother's long-standing wish that he stop fighting.
Makhachev, who made the comments on social media, said his mother has always been against him competing. "I've always listened to my mother, so soon I will obey her word," he said, according to the report. He did not say when that next fight might take place or who his opponent would be.
Makhachev is 29-1-0 and holds the welterweight title. The 35-year-old Russian, who trains with Eagles MMA, fights from a southpaw stance and stands five-foot-ten (178 cm) with a 70-inch reach. His most recent recorded fight came on August 15, 2026, when he beat Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision over five rounds at UFC 330 to defend the belt.
That win extended a run of three straight title-fight victories in his recorded history. In November 2025 he outpointed Jack Della Maddalena over five rounds at UFC 322, and in January 2025 he submitted Renato Moicano in the first round at UFC 311. Two of those three fights went the full 25 minutes, a sign of how often his title bouts have been decided on the scorecards rather than by finish.
His numbers explain the pattern. Makhachev lands 2.27 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy, an efficient rather than high-volume output. His grappling is the bigger weapon: he averages 3.22 takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.9 submission attempts over the same span.
Why it matters
- A retirement would leave the welterweight title without its current holder, opening the division's top spot for the first time in his reign.
- The hint puts extra weight on whatever fight is booked next, since it could be the final chapter of a 29-1 career.
- At 35, Makhachev is still winning at title level, so any exit would come while he remains champion.
No retirement has been formally announced, and the comments leave open whether his next bout will actually be his last.
