Surprising But Reliable Source Claims Islam Makhachev Will Be Done With UFC Career By 2027

One of the people closest to Islam Makhachev claimed this week he expects the UFC lightweight king to call it a career in two years.

After a dominant career that saw him go 29-0, it seemed like no fighter could be better at 155 pounds than Russian legend Khabib Nurmagomedov. However, before the former lightweight champ called it a career four years ago, he suggested his friend and protege Islam Makhachev could end up being better than him.

Well, after 16 fights in the UFC, Makhachev has put together a resume that has earned him serious consideration as the best UFC lightweight ever. He has scored wins over division greats like Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier, and former featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski. And has also been an impressive champion.

He doesn’t seem to be slowing down at 33 years old, and many UFC fans and media believe he is the pound-for-pound best fighter right now. Not Dana White’s favorite fighter Jon Jones. However, while Jones is still fighting at 37 years old, the Russian’s long-time coach believes Makhachev will retire well before that age.

Islam Makhachev record: 26-1 (5 knockouts, 12 submissions)

Will Islam Makhachev retire from UFC at 35?

“He’s going to probably do what Khabib did and retire at 35,” coach Javier Mendez told “Submission Radio” this week. “Well, Khabib did it a lot earlier, but I think 35 is the magic number for these guys. They have that in their head, that 35 is the cutoff point. Some will go over, but I think Islam is already set financially. He’s done really well with his money. So I think it will probably be lights out after 35.”

Islam Makhachev turned 33 this past October. It means that two years from now in 2027, the lightweight great could be done as an active fighter. And since he allegedly is already set money-wise, the cash he makes between now and then will only solidify that fact. It makes a retirement before his body fails him more likely.