Rogan: Makhachev Could Retire After UFC 330 Title Defense
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Joe Rogan says he would not be surprised if Islam Makhachev retires from mixed martial arts should he beat Ian Machado Garry in the UFC 330 main event this Saturday.
Speaking with Aljamain Sterling on the "JRE MMA Show," Rogan floated the idea that Makhachev could follow the same path as Khabib Nurmagomedov, walking away from competition to become a coach. "Islam may retire," Rogan said. "He's done a lot. He's competed in two different weight classes and won world championships in two different weight classes. If he beats Ian, if he submits Ian and says, 'I've had enough. I'm gonna do what Khabib did, and I'm gonna coach now,' I could see that. And then, I could see Morales and Prates for the undisputed title."
Makhachev is making his first defense of the UFC welterweight title at UFC 330, adding a 170-pound belt to the lightweight championship he already holds. He has lost only once in his professional career, a defeat that dates back to 2015, and Rogan's comments reflect just how complete his resume already looks even before Saturday's outcome is known.
What Would a Makhachev Retirement Mean for Welterweight
A Makhachev retirement would immediately open the welterweight division to its next generation of contenders. Rogan specifically pointed to Michael Morales and Carlos Prates as fighters who could meet for the vacant title, praising both for their finishing instincts and aggressive styles. Prates has already made his own prediction for UFC 330, saying he expects Garry to take the welterweight belt from Makhachev by decision, while Garry himself has promised a clear-cut knockout rather than a fluke finish.
Betting Angle
Retirement talk around a defending champion always adds a layer of uncertainty for bettors trying to price futures and title-picture markets, but it should not change how anyone approaches Saturday's fight itself. Makhachev remains the man to beat at welterweight regardless of what he decides afterward, and his in-cage performance against Garry is still the only number that matters for this card. Where the speculation does matter is in longer-term futures on the welterweight title, since a Makhachev exit would likely fast-track a Morales-Prates matchup for the vacant belt, a fight the market would need to price fresh rather than lean on any existing Makhachev-related lines.
For now, Garry is the swing factor. If he pulls off the upset, the retirement conversation disappears entirely and the futures market resets around a new champion. If Makhachev wins and then walks away as Rogan suggests, expect an immediate scramble in welterweight title odds as sportsbooks work out a fresh favorite between Morales and Prates.
