UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev says his next fight will be “one of the last” of his illustrious career.
The 35-year-old Russian beat Ian Machado Garry in August to defend his welterweight title in a 17th-straight victory in the UFC.
The win meant Makhachev, who is a former lightweight world champion, broke Anderson Silva’s 13-year record for the longest win streak in UFC history.
Makhachev says he wants to prove again he is “the best in the world” by facing the winner of Brazil’s Carlos Prates and Ecuador’s Michael Morales.
The pair are set to fight for the interim welterweight belt at UFC 336 on 30 January.
“My next fight is one of the last in my career,” said Makhachev.
“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.”
UFC president Dana White has said Makhachev was originally scheduled to defend his belt against Prates in January, but opted to delay fighting until after Ramadan in March.
White added he thought Makhachev was “holding up the division”, which was why he chose to create the interim bout between Prates and Morales.
Makhachev later said the bout between the pair will determine “the true worthy contender”.
Makhachev is widely regarded as one of the best fighters in UFC history after winning 29 of his 30 fights.
In August, White said Makhachev was “on the right path” to being regarded as the greatest fighter in the promotion’s history.
Prates, 33, has won his last three fights by knockout, while Morales, 27, has won all 19 of his professional fights.
