Overview
- Islam Makhachev defended the welterweight title and extended the UFC’s longest consecutive win streak at UFC 330, defeating Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision on August 15.
- After returning to Dagestan, Makhachev told reporters he expects at least three more “very hard and exciting” fights before considering retirement and signaled a desire to fight again before Ramadan or by year end.
- Top contenders have pushed for the next shot, with Carlos Prates publicly tagging Makhachev and suggesting a headliner at UFC 334 on November 14 at Madison Square Garden while Michael Morales is also positioned as a leading challenger.
- Tensions from Makhachev’s post‑fight Russian‑flag celebration have intensified exchanges with Merab Dvalishvili, who is scheduled to rematch Petr Yan in a trilogy at UFC 333 on October 24 and who admitted he underprepared for a recent RAF wrestling loss.
- The combination of Makhachev’s timeline, the UFC’s announced late‑2026 cards, and cross‑discipline RAF activity is creating pressure on matchmakers and is likely to shape which contenders get shots and how fighters manage training and rivalries.