Islam Makhachev's Next Steps After UFC 330 Win
Islam Makhachev is already thinking about the next one. He just needs his body to catch up.
The reigning UFC welterweight champion, and the No. 1 fighter in the MMA Fighting pound-for-pound rankings, has fought only once in 2026, but it was enough to etch his name even deeper into the sport’s history. His win over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 in August pushed his UFC winning streak to 17, the longest in the promotion’s history, and added another defense to a résumé that now spans two divisions.
Seventeen straight. Titles defended at 155 and 170 pounds. The numbers are starting to sound unreal.
Yet behind that dominance, there’s a quieter reality: the grind of a decade-long climb is leaving marks. Speaking to Match TV, Makhachev revealed he’s dealing with a handful of nagging issues that need attention before he signs for his next defense.
“After the fight, I had three MRIs and had my entire spine checked,” Makhachev said, via a Russian-to-English translation from Championship Rounds. “There are a few small issues, so I’m working on them. It’s nothing serious. I’m just strengthening my spine.”
No panic. No drama. Just maintenance on a machine that’s been running at full throttle.
The move up from lightweight has demanded adjustments. At 155 pounds, Makhachev set the record for most successful UFC title defenses in that division with four, ruling over a weight class stacked with elite wrestlers and dangerous strikers. At 170, he’s carried that same suffocating control and composure into a division packed with bigger, more physical opponents.
If the injuries have bothered him, the cage hasn’t shown it. He dominated Jack Della Maddalena to claim the welterweight belt, then turned back Garry with the kind of measured, one-sided performance that has become his trademark. No wild brawls. No chaos. Just a champion systematically shutting down rising contenders.
Away from the bright lights, another schedule shapes his year. A devout Muslim, Makhachev has long built his fight calendar around Ramadan, picking his windows carefully to peak at the right time while honoring his faith. That pattern will likely continue as he eyes his next defense.
“We’ll wait for the UFC to call,” Makhachev said. “I think the ideal scenario would be to fight before Ramadan. Ramadan starts for us in February. A date before Ramadan would be ideal.”
That points to early 2027 for his return, assuming his back responds to the work and the matchmakers find the right name to stand across from him. The belt is his, the streak is his, and the division is on hold until the champion gives the word.
Seventeen wins in a row. Two divisions conquered. A spine to strengthen, and a narrow window before Ramadan. The question now is simple: who’s willing to walk into that window and try to stop him?
