Islam Makhachev's Road to Recovery Before Next Fight

Islam Makhachev is used to moving forward. Right now, he has to stand still.

The reigning UFC welterweight champion, and the No. 1 fighter in the MMA Fighting pound-for-pound rankings, has fought just once in 2026, turning back Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 in August. That win pushed him into rare air: 17 consecutive UFC victories, the longest streak in the promotion’s history, and successful title defenses at both 170 and 155 pounds on his résumé.

The numbers say dominance. His body is telling him to slow down.

Speaking to Match TV, Makhachev revealed he’s dealing with lingering physical issues that need attention before he can book his next defense.

“After the fight, I had three MRIs and had my entire spine checked,” Makhachev said, via a Russian-to-English translation from Championship Rounds. “There are a few small issues, so I’m working on them. It’s nothing serious. I’m just strengthening my spine.”

Those “small issues” are the inevitable tax of a move that looked seamless from the outside. Since stepping up from lightweight—where he set the division record with four successful UFC title defenses—Makhachev has had to reshape his body for life at 170 pounds. He didn’t tiptoe into the division, either. He ripped the belt away from Jack Della Maddalena with a dominant decision, then shut down the unbeaten surge of Garry to cement himself as the man to beat.

Any physical adjustments he’s been forced to make have stayed hidden on fight night. There have been no visible signs of compromise in the cage, no dip in tempo, no hint that the grind of two weight classes and two title reigns is catching up with him. The scans, though, tell a more cautious story.

For Makhachev, timing is never just about the rankings or the UFC calendar. The devout Muslim has long built his training camps and title defenses around Ramadan, stepping away from competition during the holy month. That rhythm has shaped his career, and he has no plans to change it now.

The target, then, is clear.

“We’ll wait for the UFC to call,” Makhachev said. “I think the ideal scenario would be to fight before Ramadan. Ramadan starts for us in February. A date before Ramadan would be ideal.”

An early-2027 return fits that window. It also sets up a familiar scene: Makhachev entering camp with a belt around his waist, a streak on the line, and another contender trying to solve the puzzle that has stumped 17 straight UFC opponents.

For now, he strengthens his spine, watches the division move beneath him, and waits for the phone to ring.