Islam Makhachev Sets Minimum Three Title Fights Ahead

Islam Makhachev, the UFC welterweight champion, says he has at least three more title fights left in his career after extending his winning streak to a record 17 consecutive victories.

How Long Will Islam Makhachev Keep Fighting?

Makhachev revealed a minimum of three more title fights await him after his dominant win over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 in Philadelphia last Saturday. He said the division is deep with contenders like Michael Morales, Carlos Prates and Gabriel Bonfim ready to challenge him. The champion, 34, added that he is not satisfied with just defending his belt once and wants to keep competing while he is still in his prime. His current record stands at 18-1 in the UFC, with 17 straight wins that broke Anderson Silva’s long-standing record.

Can Movsar Evloev Dethrone Alexander Volkanovski?

Makhachev also tipped Movsar Evloev to beat his old rival Alexander Volkanovski in the featherweight title fight at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi on October 24. He argued that Volkanovski, who will be 38 at the time, is past his peak while Evloev, a younger Russian, has the youth and skill to capitalize. The two fighters have shared six hard rounds in their previous encounters, giving Makhachev a clear view of both styles. His prediction adds weight to the growing speculation that the featherweight division could see a new champion soon.

What Did Dana White Say About Ian Machado Garry?

UFC CEO Dana White ripped into Ian Machado Garry after the welterweight title fight, calling the fighter’s fifth-round complacency a mistake. White said Garry wasted precious seconds telling Makhachev he loved him instead of pressing the attack. He noted that Garry had the perfect game plan from the opening bell but failed to execute in the final minutes, allowing Makhachev to secure the unanimous decision. White’s comments highlighted the narrow margin that decided the bout.

Is Islam Makhachev a Top-5 UFC GOAT?

Former double champion Henry Cejudo placed Islam Makhachev in the top five of the UFC GOAT rankings, citing his 17-fight win streak and multiple title defenses. Cejudo argued that the numbers speak for themselves: Makhachev has defended his belt more times than any other current champion and has a higher win-percentage than legends such as Georges St-Pierre. While Cejudo stopped short of naming him the GOAT, he said the Russian is now firmly in the conversation with Jon Jones, St-Pierre, Anderson Silva and Demetrious Johnson.

Islam Makhachev will defend his welterweight crown at least three more times before he sets a retirement date, with contenders like Michael Morales, Carlos Prates and Gabriel Bonfim waiting in the wings. He also believes Movsar Evloev can dethrone Alexander Volkanovski in their upcoming featherweight title bout on October 24. Dana White’s harsh critique of Ian Machado Garry underscores the high stakes of each fight, while Henry Cejudo’s GOAT assessment adds historical context to Makhachev’s impressive run.

• Makhachev has a minimum of three more title fights planned
• He extended his UFC winning streak to 17 consecutive victories
• He is 34 years old and aims to stay active for several more years
• Henry Cejudo ranks him in the top five of UFC GOAT list
• Dana White criticized Ian Machado Garry for wasting round time