{"id":41288,"date":"2026-10-27T03:39:08","date_gmt":"2026-10-27T03:39:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sherdog.com\/news\/news\/Islam-Makhachevs-coach-names-3-fights-he-wants-before-retirement-203368"},"modified":"2026-10-27T03:39:08","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T03:39:08","slug":"islam-makhachevs-coach-names-3-fights-he-wants-before-retirement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.martialartskleinanzeigen.com\/videos\/islam-makhachevs-coach-names-3-fights-he-wants-before-retirement\/","title":{"rendered":"Islam Makhachev’s coach names 3 fights he wants before retirement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
<\/div>\n

Islam
\nMakhachev<\/a>‘s coach, Javier Mendez, has outlined how he\u2019d like to
\nsee his fighter\u2019s title reign unfold.<\/p>\n

Mendez believes victories over Carlos
\nPrates<\/a>, Michael
\nMorales<\/a> and Shavkat
\nRakhmonov<\/a> would strengthen Makhachev\u2019s case as the greatest
\nfighter in
\nUltimate Fighting Championship<\/a> history. He emphasized, however,
\nthat those opponents are his own preferences rather than
\nnecessarily the champion\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Javier Mendez wants Islam Makhachev to face Carlos Prates,
\nMichael Morales and Shavkat Rakhmonov, but says the plans are his
\nalone<\/h2>\n

Speaking on Submission Radio, Mendez said title defenses against
\nPrates, Morales and Rakhmonov are on his wish list.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is in my mind, OK? Not Islam’s mind; my mind. I go, Prates,
\nMorales, and then if Shavkat comes back, Shavkat, and then we’ll
\nsee after that if he wants to continue,\u201d Mendez said.<\/p>\n

Mendez added that his wish list depends on Makhachev wanting to
\ncontinue competing.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose are the three on my wishlist, not Islam’s wishlist,\u201d Mendez
\nadded. \u201cYou know, because at the end of the day, if Islam fights
\none more fight and he’s done, well, my wishlist goes to hell.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prates (24-7) and Morales (19-0) are set to contest interim
\nwelterweight gold at UFC
\n336<\/a> on Jan. 30, 2027, in Toronto, with the winner expected to
\nface Makhachev (29-1) in a title unification bout. Rakhmonov
\n(19-0), meanwhile, has not competed since December 2024 and has
\ndealt with multiple knee injuries.<\/p>\n