Islam Makhachev: ‘I have at least 3 more very hard and exciting fights waiting for me’

Islam Makhachev remains committed to his pursuit of greatness in the welterweight division despite reaching a historic milestone at UFC 330. The Dagestani champion successfully defended his title against Ian Machado Garry earlier this month, extending his UFC consecutive-win record to unprecedented levels. While the victory cemented Makhachev's status as one of the sport's all-time greats, the performance drew criticism for its lack of excitement and finishing prowess.

In comments following his return to Dagestan, Makhachev acknowledged the bout was tougher than anticipated. "The main thing is the win, but I planned and thought it would be easier," he told reporters. "It's not that it didn't go to plan; I just thought it would be a bit easier. But opponents are preparing, too, and every time it gets harder." The champion attributed the increased difficulty to evolving competition and the growing strength within the welterweight ranks, noting that he must continue improving to regain control.

Despite his historic accomplishment, Makhachev dismissed any notion of walking away from the sport. While he doesn't have specific records in his sights, he indicated his intention to remain active with several significant bouts remaining. "I have at least three more spectacular and very tough fights for me," Makhachev stated. He downplayed the significance of his consecutive-win record, noting other fighters already possess similar streaks, and pondered whether he might eventually pursue records in title-fight frequency instead.

The next challenge for the pound-for-pound king appears to come from either Carlos Prates or Michael Morales, both of whom were present cageside at UFC 330. Morales even served as the backup fighter for the event, positioning either contender as a logical next opponent for the dominant champion.