MMA Junkie Tue, November 3, 2026 at 7:40 PM UTC · 2 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Uros Medic gives UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev no flack for being selective about his opponents toward the end of his career.
Makhachev (29-1 MMA, 18-1 UFC) wanted to see Carlos Prates (24-7 MMA, 7-1 UFC) and Michael Morales (19-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) battle it out to determine the No. 1 contender instead of fighting Prates next. As a result, Prates faces Morales for the interim title in the UFC 336 co-headliner Jan. 30 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto ( Paramount+ ).
Makhachev admits the winner of that fight will be "one of the last" fights of his career . But why wait?
"I'm going to be honest with you: I'm a little tired of watching Islam Makhachev winning at the top," Medic said on the "Believe You Me" podcast. "I'm like, 'Come on, go rest, go relax. You're the best, bro. You've proved everything.' I'm not afraid to say he is the best in the division right now. He is the champion. There's no doubt about it. But if you're talking or considering retirement, bro, get out. You've already accomplished everything.
"Go do your thing, bro. Be a businessman, be a politician, he can be anything. He is a smart fellow. So we're probably going to see him for another year, maybe? Another one or two fights, and that's amazing. He has made a statement in this division that will probably be a long time before someone comes around and does what him and Khabib have done. So, very impressive, but life moves on, divisions move on, and I'm interested to see what happens."
Medic, who's on the rise after winning four straight fights, understands where Makhachev is coming from.
"After he beats Carlos Prates, they are going to call him and be like, 'Hey, you want to fight Morales?' It's going to be the same thing," Medic said. "It just never stops. So, I do understand from his standpoint, like, 'Hey, why don't these guys fight? I'll fight the better guy.' It's understandable, and I also think the division does need it."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Rising UFC welterweight admits he's 'tired of watching Islam Makhachev win'
Source: Sports
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