Brendan Schaub Walks Back Makhachev Remarks After Backlash

Brendan Schaub is backtracking after comments he made about Islam Makhachev and Muslim champions drew heavy criticism online.

On a recent episode of the Big Brown Breakdown, Schaub addressed Makhachev's absence from the first major UFC card of 2027, where Carlos Prates and Michael Morales will now meet for the interim welterweight title instead. "This is why you can't have your champs of that religion. You just can't, you can't run a business on it, they fight once a f, year," Schaub said. The comments were clipped and shared by the MMA account Happy Punch, and the replies turned hostile fast.

Facing mounting criticism, Schaub posted a follow-up on social media trying to clarify his point. "Oh boy. Here we go. This was a much larger point taken out of context," he wrote. "Religion isn't the point, it could be a number of reasons a fighter isn't active. My point was you can't build stars if they're not active. That's it. My whole 'rant' was dumb because Islam is already a superstar."

Why Makhachev Is Sitting Out

Islam Makhachev will not compete on the January 2027 card after undisclosed circumstances kept him from being ready to fight. Prates was instead rebooked opposite Morales for the interim welterweight strap. Makhachev and a number of other fighters are also expected to observe Ramadan following that event, which could push his return into the middle or latter half of 2027. None of that timeline has been tied publicly to a specific reason beyond the religious observance and whatever kept him out of the January booking.

What This Means Competitively

An extended runway for Makhachev changes the calculus for everyone circling the welterweight division. Prates and Morales are now fighting for interim gold with a real chance to build equity while the champion is away, and a long layoff always raises questions about ring rust and whether a champion returns the same fighter. Betting markets tend to treat extended title absences as a mild discount on the incumbent whenever he does return, since oddsmakers have to price in inactivity against a hungrier, more tested challenger. Until Makhachev is booked again, there is nothing concrete to price, but expect his first fight back to open with closer markets than his usual lines if the layoff stretches toward late 2027.

Schaub's original comments drew backlash largely because Makhachev has been one of the sport's most dominant and visible champions regardless of faith, and critics pointed out that singling out religious observance as a business liability ignored how common short-notice pullouts and long title reigns are across the sport. His walk-back tried to reframe the argument around inactivity rather than religion, but the initial clip is what spread.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Islam Makhachev not fighting on the next major UFC card?

Islam Makhachev will not compete on the first major UFC card of 2027 due to undisclosed reasons, and Carlos Prates will instead face Michael Morales for the interim welterweight title on that card.

What did Brendan Schaub say about Islam Makhachev?

Brendan Schaub said the UFC "can't run a business" with champions who share Makhachev's religion because they don't fight often, then later clarified that his point was about inactivity, not religion, after facing backlash.

When might Islam Makhachev return to the Octagon?

Islam Makhachev is expected to observe Ramadan after the next major UFC card, meaning his return could be pushed to the middle or latter part of 2027.