Islam Makhachev wonders why Carlos Prates and Michael Morales didn’t fight at UFC 330 to determine No. 1 contender

Islam Makhachev retained his welterweight title with a win over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 in Philadelphia on Saturday, and immediately called for a faster path to determining his next challenger. The reigning champion questioned why the UFC didn't book a title-eliminator bout between the two leading contenders, Carlos Prates and Michael Morales, on the same card—both fighters were cageside for the main event.

"Let them fight," Makhachev said at the post-fight press conference. "Why are they not fighting on this card to see who is the No. 1 contender?" The 34-year-old champion acknowledged that Prates, Morales, and Shavkat Rakhmonov represent genuine threats in the division and drive him daily in training.

Makhachev's frustration extends beyond opponent selection. He had hoped to compete twice in 2025 but did not fight again until August at UFC 330. He expressed particular disappointment about missing the earlier White House card despite offering his availability. Now, with victory in hand, he is pushing to return by November or December to maximize his activity while he can.

"Because I am not 20 something," Makhachev explained. "I am 34 years old. I have to fight as soon as possible because I don't cut much weight, I don't have any big injuries." He emphasized that scheduling has limited his choices rather than his own preferences.

Whether the UFC will accommodate his request to accelerate the title defense timeline remains uncertain, but Makhachev has made his position clear: he wants to fight sooner rather than wait until 2026 for the next championship bout.