Islam Makhachev says his mother may decide when he retires: 'I will obey her word'

The UFC welterweight champion says he is "reaching the finish line" and does not "see any new names" to fight, as he waits for the Carlos Prates v Michael Morales winner.

Islam Makhachev says his mother has always been against him fighting and that he will soon obey her word, as he weighs how long he has left in the UFC.

"My mother has always been against me fighting," Makhachev told Red Corner MMA at the Sambo World Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. "I've always listened to my mother, so soon I will obey her word."

His close friend and mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov ended his career over a promise to his mother. He retired in October 2020 after beating Justin Gaethje to go 29-0, following the death of his father and coach, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov.

Makhachev gave no date for his own exit. "There's no number," he said. "I am just reaching the finish line. There aren't many things that could give me motivation in this sport. I'm at the finish line. I just want to fight the contenders, but I don't see any new names."

He has already written on X that his next fight "is one of the last in my career" (read more). Colby Covington has called that retirement talk "probably a negotiation tactic" (read more).

Makhachev, 29-1 with 17 straight wins, beat Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 in August in his first welterweight title defence. He will face the winner of Carlos Prates and Michael Morales, who meet for the interim title at UFC 336 in January, and said neither man is a threat to him.

"They are both good," he said. "They are both punchers. Although, I wouldn't say either of them is a threat for me. I am a bad matchup for them stylistically."

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