Makhachev’s own preference for a legacy fight against former champion Kamaru Usman has collided with the momentum of undefeated rising stars and the frustration of inactive top contenders. This has created a multifaceted puzzle for the promotion to solve when booking the champion’s next title defense.
The Champion’s Wish: A Legacy from Defense against Kamaru Usman
Despite winning the title of Jack Della Maddalena Just last month, Makhachev spoke out about his desire defense of the first title. He has repeatedly named Kamaru Usman, the former division kingpin with the record for most consecutive title defenses, as his favorite opponent.
Makhachev justifies this choice by stating that this is the “hardest fight” available and a big event for fans. He has publicly questioned the readiness of newer contenders, stating that “Usman would roll through these newcomers”, and sees a fight with the proven former champion as the main challenge to cement his own legacy at welterweight.
The Contender Standoff: Rising Stars vs. the Inactive Heir
Makhachev’s focus on Usman has created significant resistance among the division’s active candidates, creating clear factions vying for victory. title shot.
- The New Blood (Michael Morales, Carlos Prates): Both fighters have done undeniable business with spectacular recent knockouts: Morales over Sean Brady and Prates over a top prospect. Their perfect results and finishing power have forced the division to take notice, with even Usman recognizing their worthiness.
- Ian Machado Garry’s claim: After a decisive victory, Garry positioned himself as a top contender and was the most vocal critic of the Usman fight. He dismissed the former champion as a ‘has been’ and argued that he himself is the rightful next challenger.
- The Forgotten Heir (Shavkat Rakhmonov): The undefeated Rakhmonov, once the presumed number one contender, has seen his stock plummet following a year of inactivity due to injury. Makhachev has explicitly ruled him out, stating that a contender cannot be inactive and then immediately fight for the title.
Possible paths for Makhachev’s next fight
The UFC now faces a complex booking decision with multiple valid, but conflicting options for Makhachev next title defense.
- Fulfill the champion’s wish: Book Makhachev vs. Usman. This is the path of least resistance for the champion and maximizes mainstream name value, but risks alienating active, emerging contenders.
- Mandate a new contender: Force Makhachev to defend against Garry, Morales or Prates. This rewards recent activities and achievements, but may not be the greatest commercial appeal.
- Create a clear contender: Book an interim title eliminator between two top contenders (e.g. Garry vs. Morales) to create an undeniable next challenger, pushing Makhachev’s next fight a little later in 2026.
For his part, Makhachev has stated that he will fight whoever the UFC selects. “My division is really lively right now… I don’t care. The UFC will probably offer me someone soon,” he said, indicating a willingness to defend himself against whoever is put in front of him.
Frequently asked questions
When is Islam Makhachev’s next fight?
No date has been announced. The fight is contingent on the UFC resolving the current candidate debate and finalizing an opponent. The earliest realistic timeline would be early 2026.
Who will most likely be Islam Makhachev’s next opponent?
While Kamaru Usman is the champion’s personal preference, like rising contenders Ian Machado Garry or Michael Morales present strong alternative cases. The final decision from the UFC is still pending.
Why isn’t Shavkat Rakhmonov in contention for the next title contender?
Because of inactivity of an injury. Makhachev and others have stated that a contender cannot sit around for a year and immediately get a title fight, which opens the door for more active fighters.
What did Ian Machado say to Garry about the possible Usman fight?
Garry was highly critical, calling Usman a ‘has-been’ and stating that it would be ‘disrespectful’ to the division if Makhachev were to fight him next instead of an active top prospect like himself.
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