Makhachev says next fight will be 'one of the last' as he targets interim welterweight winner

UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, 35, said his next fight will be "one of the last" of his career and that he wants to face the winner of Carlos Prates and Michael Morales, who are set to contest the interim welterweight title at UFC 336 on 30 January.

In August Makhachev defeated Ian Machado Garry to retain his welterweight title; that victory was his 17th-straight in the UFC and broke Anderson Silva's 13-year record for the longest win streak in UFC history, and Makhachev is a former lightweight world champion.

"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 said he thought Makhachev was "holding up the division", which was why he created the interim bout between Prates and Morales. Makhachev later said the bout between the pair will determine "the true worthy contender".

Prates, 33, has won his last three fights by knockout, while Morales, 27, has won all 19 of his professional fights.

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.

White said Makhachev had originally been scheduled to defend his belt against Prates in January but opted to delay fighting until after Ramadan in March; the interim title fight at UFC 336 on 30 January will determine the challenger Makhachev says he wants to face.