Islam Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion, has stated that he does not have "much time" left in his Ultimate Fighting Championship career. As he prepares for the first defense of his title against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, the 34-year-old fighter expressed a desire to compete more often in the latter stages of his career.
Makhachev, widely considered one of the greatest mixed martial arts fighters, made his UFC debut in 2015 and has amassed an impressive record of 17 wins out of 18 fights in the promotion. A victory over the 28-year-old Machado Garry would tie Anderson Silva's record of 16 successive wins in the UFC, a record that has stood for 13 years.
After a record-breaking fourth lightweight title defense last year, Makhachev moved up in weight. He told UFC Hall of Famer Demetrious Johnson that he prefers to fight every three to four months, acknowledging his age. "I understand I'm not 28 years old; I'm 34 right now. And I don't have much time," Makhachev said. "Sometimes it's not going like you want in the UFC. You want to fight after three or four months, but it's not according to your wish."
The build-up to Makhachev's bout with Machado Garry has also seen discussions comparing his achievements to those of his teammate and coach, Khabib Nurmagomedov. Nurmagomedov retired in 2020 with an undefeated record of 29 wins, known for his relentless pressure style. Makhachev, while not as aggressive, is considered a more well-rounded striker. His sole defeat in the UFC came against Adriano Martins in 2015.
Makhachev achieved a goal that Nurmagomedov did not by becoming a two-division champion when he defeated Jack Della Maddalena last year. UFC president Dana White has indicated that Makhachev is on a path to be regarded as the greatest fighter in UFC history.