Medic urges Makhachev to retire after 17-fight win streak: 'You've accomplished everything'

Uros Medic has called on Islam Makhachev to retire, arguing the UFC’s two-weight champion has already accomplished everything the sport has to offer and should step away while on top.

“I’m a little tired of watching Islam Makhachev winning at the top,” Medic said on the Believe You Me podcast. “I’m like, come on, go rest, go relax. You’re the best, bro. I’m not afraid to say he is the best in the division right now. He is the champion. There’s no doubt about it. But if you’re talking or considering retirement, bro, get out. You’ve already accomplished everything. Go do your thing, bro. Go be a businessman, go be a politician — he can do everything. He is a smart fellow.”

Makhachev (29-1) has won 17 straight fights since his only professional defeat in 2015, defending the lightweight title four times before moving up to welterweight. He claimed the 170-pound championship against Jack Della Maddalena and successfully defended it against Ian Garry in August. Carlos Prates and Michael Morales are set to fight for the interim welterweight title at UFC 336 on 30 January 2027, with Makhachev expected to face the winner.

Medic (14-3), nicknamed “The Doctor”, has built his own momentum heading into the conversation. The Serbian fighter has won four consecutive bouts, all by first-round stoppage, and is scheduled to face Kevin Holland (29-15, 1 NC) at UFC 334 on 14 November at Madison Square Garden in New York.

While Medic’s comments read as genuine admiration rather than a callout, they reflect a wider sense within the welterweight division that Makhachev’s dominance has become difficult to challenge — and that the champion himself may be weighing his future in the sport.