TLDR
- Joe Rogan believes Islam Makhachev might retire after his UFC 330 title defense against Ian Garry on Saturday
- Makhachev has won championships in two weight classes with only one career loss dating back to 2015
- Rogan compared a potential Makhachev retirement to mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov, who left fighting to coach
- If Makhachev retires, Rogan suggested Michael Morales and Carlos Prates could fight for the vacant welterweight title
- Ian Garry has vowed to knock out Makhachev and take the championship belt in Philadelphia
Sources: bjpenn.com | yardbarker.com
Joe Rogan believes Islam Makhachev might retire from mixed martial arts immediately after UFC 330 this Saturday. The podcast host shared his prediction during a recent episode of the JRE MMA Show with former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling.
Makhachev will defend his welterweight title against Ian Garry in the UFC 330 main event on Saturday night. The champion already holds wins in two different weight classes and has only one loss on his record, which happened back in 2015.
“Islam may retire,” Rogan said during the podcast. “He’s done a lot. He’s competed in two different weight classes and won world championships in two different weight classes.”
Rogan compared Makhachev’s potential decision to his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov, who retired from competition to focus on coaching. “If he beats Ian, if he submits Ian and says, ‘I’ve had enough. I’m gonna do what Khabib did, and I’m gonna coach now,’ I could see that,” Rogan explained.
Islam Makhachev shows off his 2 UFC title belts on stage at UFC 330 🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/MC5KUuyU5a
— FULL SEND MMA (@full_send_mma) August 12, 2026
What Happens If Makhachev Retires
If Makhachev does retire, Rogan suggested the UFC would need to crown a new welterweight champion. He mentioned rising contenders Michael Morales and Carlos Prates as possible fighters for a vacant title bout.
Both Morales and Prates have earned praise for their finishing abilities and exciting fighting styles. The welterweight division has several young fighters ready to compete for the belt if it becomes available.
Not everyone agrees that Makhachev is ready to retire. Conor McGregor has stated he believes the champion has plenty of fights left in his career.
Garry Looks to Spoil Retirement Plans
Ian Garry enters the UFC 330 main event as the challenger looking to take the welterweight title. He has promised to knock out Makhachev rather than win by flash knockout.
Garry’s prediction differs from that of Carlos Prates, who believes “The Future” will win the belt by decision. Prates and Garry fought each other in April 2025, with Garry winning that contest.
Makhachev has told reporters he plans to “humble” Garry during their title fight. The champion said he will teach the challenger a lesson when UFC 330 takes place in Philadelphia.
The welterweight champion has already cemented his legacy in the sport. Winning titles at both lightweight and welterweight puts him in elite company among UFC champions.
Makhachev’s only professional loss came in 2015, early in his UFC career. Since then, he has gone on a dominant run that includes capturing two division titles.
The UFC 330 card also features a women’s strawweight title fight in the co-main event. Mackenzie Dern will defend her championship against Gillian Robertson.
Whether Makhachev will actually retire remains unknown until after the fight concludes. Rogan emphasized he was only speculating based on what the champion has already accomplished in his career.
