Islam Makhachev Eyes Title Defense Before Ramadan

Islam Makhachev already knows when he wants to walk back into the fire.

Fresh off his first Welterweight title defense at UFC 330, where he turned back Ian Machado Garry in Philadelphia, the champion has one eye on the calendar and the other on his body. The belt stayed with him. He didn’t leave the Octagon untouched.

After the fight, Makhachev went through a battery of medical checks. Three MRIs. Full spine scan. The results brought a hint of concern, but no crisis.

“After the fight, I had three MRIs and had my entire spine checked,” Makhachev said. “There are a few small issues, so I'm working on them. It's nothing serious. I'm just strengthening my spine.”

So the work now is quiet and methodical. No bright lights, no walkouts, just a champion rebuilding the frame that lets him dominate at 170 pounds. Once that’s done, the plan is clear.

“We'll wait for the UFC to call,” he continued. “I think the ideal scenario would be to fight before Ramadan. Ramadan starts for us in February. A date before Ramadan would be ideal.”

Ramadan is expected to begin around Feb. 8, 2027, which gives the promotion a narrow window. Realistically, that means December 2026 or January 2027 for Makhachev’s second Welterweight title defense. Not much room for negotiation. A date lands, or it doesn’t.

On the other side of the equation stands a man who believes the shot is already his.

Carlos Prates has been shouting his case loud enough for everyone to hear. The Brazilian knockout artist insists UFC promised him the next Welterweight title opportunity, and his recent form backs up the bravado. “The Nightmare” has flattened Geoff Neal, Leon Edwards and former champion Jack Della Maddalena in three straight appearances, a ruthless streak that has turned him from dark horse to obvious threat.

That kind of run usually doesn’t wait in line.

Makhachev, though, has floated a different route. He previously suggested Prates should face undefeated contender Michael Morales to decide the next challenger. A mini-tournament at the top of the division. Prates has no interest in that idea. From his perspective, the work is done, the statement made, and the contract should be next.

So the matchup board hangs in limbo. A healthy, sharpened Makhachev wants to defend before Ramadan. Prates wants his promised shot. Morales lurks as the unbeaten danger man who could spoil everything if the UFC goes the eliminator route.

There’s another layer to the timing. If UFC gets Makhachev into the cage before Ramadan, it opens the door to a classic champion’s schedule: two fights in 2027. The former Lightweight king has often kept that pace when his body allows it, and an early-year defense would leave room for a second headline act in late summer or fall.

For now, the champion is in the gym, building up the spine that carries both his career and a division. The next move belongs to UFC — and to the matchmakers who must decide if Carlos Prates is truly next, or just one more contender forced to wait outside the champion’s door.