Injured UFC champion Islam Makhachev hopes to defend Welterweight title next before Ramadan … 2027?
UFC Welterweight champion Islam Makhachev is recovering from minor spinal issues and aims to defend his title before Ramadan in early 2027. The organization is considering potential challengers, with Carlos Prates emerging as a top candidate for the bout.
Why it matters
The scheduling of high-profile UFC title fights is often dictated by athlete health and religious observances, impacting the organization's event calendar.
Islam Makhachev already has a potential timeline in mind for his second Welterweight title defense.
Makhachev successfully defended his 170-pound crown for the first time last month, defeating Ian Machado Garry in UFC 330 's main event ( watch highlights ). However, the dominant champion apparently didn't leave Philadelphia completely unscathed.
During a recent interview, Makhachev revealed that he underwent several medical examinations after the fight, which uncovered some minor issues with his spine.
"After the fight, I had three MRIs and had my entire spine checked," Makhachev said. "There are a few small issues, so I'm working on them. It's nothing serious. I'm just strengthening my spine.
"We'll wait for the UFC to call," he continued. "I think the ideal scenario would be to fight before Ramadan. Ramadan starts for us in February. A date before Ramadan would be ideal."
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