Kamaru Usman recently shared his thoughts on Islam Makhachev choosing to delay his UFC return.
After Makhachev beat Ian Machado Garry via unanimous decision in a welterweight title fight at UFC 330 in August, Carlos Prates emerged as the frontrunner to challenge the Dagestani grappling savant next.
The promotion reportedly planned to book them for a 170-pound title fight at UFC 336 in January. However, it was confirmed that Makhachev pulled out of the matchup earlier this week and won’t be fighting till after Ramadan. As a result, Prates has been booked against Michael Morales in an interim welterweight title fight.
In a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Usman backed Makhachev’s decision to delay his return and said:
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“If you’re gonna replace a staple like Kamaru Usman, you’ve gotta be able to put in someone like Islam. If you’re gonna take out someone like an Islam Makhachev, who’s that next guy right now looking in that welterweight division that you can put there and say, ‘I can do a numbered event that people are really gonna pack the arena for?’ I think these guys are well on the way, but I feel like they just need maybe one more.”
He added:
“One more against a top guy that still has big clout. I think this is a phenomenal matchup. Either guy wins this here; they are A-tier to potentially succeed if Islam Makhachev loses the belt or gives up the belt.” [H/t: Bloody Elbow]
Watch the full video below:
Islam Makhachev drops massive update on retirement and fighting future
Islam Makhachev recently took to social media to issue a major update on his retirement plans.
In an X post, the Dagestani grappling savant claimed that his next fight would be “one of the last” and wrote:
“My next fight is one of the last in my career. They say Prates is too dangerous for me and Morales is too good for me. So I want to face the best of them and prove to the world once again who is the best in world.”
Edited by Nishant Zende.
