Islam Makhachev reveals injury and timeline for his UFC fight against Carlos Prates.

Carlos Prates and Islam Makhachev are standouts in the UFC. Photo: SUPER LUTAS montage

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Islam Makhachev is eager to return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship octagon, but he needs to deal with some physical problems. After defeating Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 , the Dagestani fighter made it clear that he intends to fight again as soon as possible. However, the injuries suffered during the fight may hinder his plans.

In an interview with Match TV, Islam Makhachev revealed that he underwent a series of tests after his fight against Ian Machado Garry . The welterweight champion (up to 77kg) had three MRI scans and identified minor problems in his spine, which are already being treated with specific strengthening exercises.

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“After the fight, I had three MRI scans and examined my entire spine. There are some minor issues, so I'm working on them. It's nothing serious. I'm just strengthening my spine,” said Islam Makhachev.

Despite his physical problems, Makhachev is already thinking about his next UFC fight. The Russian stated that he is waiting for the organization to contact him to define his future and pointed to the period before the start of Ramadan, in February, as the ideal scenario to return to the octagon.

“Let’s wait for the UFC to call. I think the ideal scenario would be to fight before Ramadan. Ramadan starts for us in February. A date before Ramadan would be ideal,” concluded the champion.

Ian Machado Garry faced Carlos Prates and Islam Makhachev in the UFC.

Among the various analyses regarding a possible confrontation between Islam Makhachev and Carlos Prates , Ian Machado Garry 's stands out. The Irishman is the only fighter who has shared the octagon with both athletes, defeating the Brazilian by unanimous decision in April 2025 and being defeated by the Russian, also by decision, at UFC 330 , held in July 2026.

In total, Garry accumulated 25 minutes of experience against each of the potential protagonists of the duel, which gives him a privileged perspective to assess how a possible confrontation between Prates and Makhachev could unfold.

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