Islam Makhachev: Dominating UFC Welterweight Champion

Islam Makhachev is winning everything except time.

The reigning UFC welterweight champion, already perched at No. 1 in the MMA Fighting pound-for-pound rankings, has fought just once in 2026. That lone outing was enough to make history: a composed, controlled title defense against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 in August, a victory that pushed his record-breaking UFC win streak to 17.

Seventeen straight in the toughest promotion on the planet. Titles defended at 155 and 170 pounds. The résumé keeps swelling, even as the calendar slows.

Now, the champion wants back in. Soon. But his body is demanding a brief pause.

Speaking to Match TV, Makhachev revealed he has been dealing with some lingering physical issues since his latest defense and has undergone a thorough medical check.

“After the fight, I had three MRIs and had my entire spine checked,” Makhachev said, via a Russian-to-English translation from Championship Rounds. “There are a few small issues, so I'm working on them. It's nothing serious. I'm just strengthening my spine.”

No drama. No panic. Just the cold, methodical maintenance of a fighter who has already climbed one mountain at lightweight and is now busy fortifying himself for the long haul at welterweight.

The move up from 155 pounds has forced adjustments. Different frame, different demands, different collisions. At lightweight, Makhachev set the record for most successful UFC title defenses in that division with four. At 170, he has already bulldozed his way through Jack Della Maddalena to claim the belt with a dominant decision, then turned back the rising Garry to cement his reign.

If injuries have bothered him, the performances haven’t shown it. He has kept opponents pinned under pressure, out-thought on the feet, and smothered on the mat.

Away from the cage, Makhachev’s life remains structured around faith and routine. A devout Muslim, he has long tailored his fight schedule around Ramadan, stepping away from competition during the holy month and building his training camps accordingly.

That rhythm is shaping his next move.

“We'll wait for the UFC to call,” Makhachev said. “I think the ideal scenario would be to fight before Ramadan. Ramadan starts for us in February. A date before Ramadan would be ideal.”

Early 2027, then, looms as the target. The spine gets strengthened, the small issues get ironed out, the next contender emerges from the pack—and the most dominant active champion in the sport prepares to add another chapter to a streak that already feels historic.

The question now isn’t whether Islam Makhachev will be ready.

It’s who dares to meet him before February.