Welterweight champion Islam Makhachev successfully defended his title for the first time last Saturday in the UFC 330 main event. The top pound-for-pound fighter in the world defeated challenger Ian Machado Garry via unanimous decision and set the record for the most consecutive wins in UFC history.
The 34 year-old Russian vacated the lightweight championship in June 2025 to move up to the 170-pound weight class to pursue a second divisional UFC title. He captured the belt in his welterweight debut defeating then champion Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322.
With Makhachev holding the title, there’s no shortage of opponents he could face next. Top-ranked contender Carlos Prates awaits a title fight opportunity. The undefeated No. 3 ranked Michael Morales has a strong case to be next in line. There’s also the undefeated by injured Shavkat Rakhmonov. Makhachev’s coach, Javier Mendez, doesn’t think the champion cares who he faces in his second title defense.
“Bring on the next one,” Mendez told Submission Radio. “We’re expected to fight the best ones available, so if it’s Prates, great. If it’s Morales, great. If it’s Shavkat, great. Bring them. I don’t care. Islam is not going to care who he fights.
“Look, if we are pound-for-pound No. 1, and we claim that, which we do, we shouldn’t be afraid of anybody and Islam’s not. So, I don’t think he cares who’s next.”