A Champion's Next Challenge
Islam Makhachev retained his UFC welterweight championship against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 via unanimous decision earlier this month. The victory extended his UFC win streak to 17 fights, surpassing Anderson Silva's 16-fight record, as noted by GIVEMESPORT.
With that title defense behind him, attention has turned to Makhachev's next opponent. Two names have emerged from different corners: Carlos Prates, who has been openly campaigning for a shot, and Kamaru Usman, the former welterweight champion who believes his style could pose problems for the current titleholder.
Prates Pushes for UFC 334
Carlos Prates, who was in attendance at UFC 330 in Philadelphia, has set his sights on fighting Makhachev at UFC 334, scheduled for November 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. According to GIVEMESPORT, Prates shared a promotional post for the event on social media, tagging Makhachev with emojis to gauge interest in a potential main-event opportunity.
Prates, a Brazilian knockout artist, has won three consecutive fights since losing to Garry in 2025, with stoppage victories over Geoff Neal, Leon Edwards, and Jack Della Maddalena. His fight against Edwards took place on the main card of Makhachev's title-winning bout against Della Maddalena last November, as reported by GIVEMESPORT.
The UFC has already announced UFC 334 and UFC 335, but no main event has been confirmed for either card. Yardbarker reported that Prates reposted the UFC's official announcement graphic on Instagram, tagging Makhachev, and captioned it "#AndNew," sparking buzz among MMA fans.
Fan Skepticism and Makhachev's Timeline
Despite Prates's enthusiasm, some fans have expressed skepticism about a potential Prates vs. Makhachev fight, according to Yardbarker. One fan predicted a one-sided fight in Makhachev's favor, while another suggested Makhachev might delay his return. However, Yardbarker notes that Makhachev has publicly stated he would like to fight before Ramadan, which begins in February 2027, contradicting claims of a prolonged hiatus.
Makhachev himself addressed his timeline at the UFC 330 post-fight press conference. As quoted by GIVEMESPORT, he said, "We have to fight before Ramadan, 100 per cent," and added, "Bro, January or the end of the year I have to fight." The 34-year-old also mentioned, "I am not cutting much weight, I don't have any big injuries, I just have to maybe double-check my nose, that's it."
GIVEMESPORT noted that Makhachev typically fights twice a year, making a UFC 334 return plausible. He also suffered some facial bruising from the Garry fight, but it doesn't appear to be a major concern.
Usman's Case for a Title Shot
Kamaru Usman, the former welterweight champion known as "The Nigerian Nightmare," has made it clear he believes he can beat Makhachev. Speaking on the Pound 4 Pound podcast, as reported by Yardbarker, Usman said, "Styles make fights, I'm telling you guys, I can get that done."
Usman's confidence stems from what he calls "MMA mathematics," though he acknowledged the rise of younger contenders like Ian Garry, Carlos Prates, and Michael Morales, who have leapfrogged him in the welterweight queue during his absence. Yardbarker reports that Usman's extended time away from the Octagon allowed others to pass him by.
Usman's recent record includes a knockout loss to Leon Edwards in 2022, a decision loss in their rematch a year later, a majority-decision defeat to Khamzat Chimaev at middleweight, a win over Joaquin Buckley at welterweight, and a decision loss to Dricus Du Plessis earlier this year. Despite these setbacks, Usman maintains he remains a threat to Makhachev.
Usman had campaigned for a shot at Makhachev after the latter defeated Jack Della Maddalena last November, and Makhachev acknowledged Usman as his biggest threat at that time, according to Yardbarker. However, no fight between the two has been announced.
What's Next?
Makhachev's first title defense of 2026 ended successfully, but his next opponent remains uncertain. Prates is actively positioning himself for a UFC 334 slot, while Usman is making his case based on stylistic matchups. Makhachev has expressed a desire to fight before Ramadan, which could align with a November date in New York or an early 2027 return.
As fans wait for the UFC to finalize its plans, the welterweight division's top contenders are making their pitches. Whether it's Prates's social media campaign or Usman's confidence in his style, the champion has no shortage of challengers.