...
By Michael Gallagher
Sports Content Coordinator
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Over the last decade-and-a-half, arguably the two most dominant fighters in the UFC have been Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev.
It’s no coincidence that they were training partners and Nurmagomedov now trains Makhachev at American Kickboxing Academy under Javier Mendez.
Nurmagomedov walked away from the UFC at the top of his game back in 2020, finishing his pro career with a 29-0 record and winning 13 straight fights before walking away following his second-round submission over Justin Gaethje. He was 31 at the time.
Read More on MMA
Makhachev has been on a similar trajectory. The 34-year-old of has a 28-1 record, he’s won 16 straight fights and 17 of 18 bouts in the UFC, which is why UFC commentator Joe Rogan believes if Makhachev beats Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 this weekend, he could pull a Nurmagomedov and ride off into the sunset.
...
“We’ll see what happens,” Rogan recently said on his “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast. “Listen…Islam may retire. He’s done a lot. He’s competed in two different weight classes and won world championships in two different weight classes — if he beats Ian, he submits Ian and says, ‘I’ve had enough, I’m going to do what Khabib did, I’m going to coach now,’ I could see that.”
If Makhachev does retire, he would vacate the welterweight championship and the UFC would need to find his successor. Should that happen, Rogan knows who should be at the front of the line.
“I could see (Michael) Morales and (Carlos) Prates for the [expletive] undisputed title,” Rogan added.
Prates (24-7) is currently the No. 1-ranked welterweight in the UFC. He’s riding a three-fight win streak, and his only loss in eight UFC fights is against Garry. Prates’ last two wins are against former champions Jack Della Maddalena and Leon Edwards.
Conversely, Morales (19-0) is currently ranked No. 3. He boasts wins over Sean Brady, Gilbert Burns, and Neil Magny.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines