Dana White Discusses Activity Expectations for Islam Makhachev

UFC CEO Dana White recently addressed the scheduling status of welterweight champion Islam Makhachev. While acknowledging Makhachev's significant accomplishments, including his status as the sport's top pound-for-pound fighter and a two-division champion, White noted that he would prefer champions to defend their titles at least twice per year. He cautioned that extended absences can delay the progression of the division and prevent other contenders from receiving title opportunities.

The comments follow the decision to schedule an interim welterweight title bout between Carlos Prates and Michael Morales at UFC 336. According to White, while a bout against Prates was verbally agreed upon, it did not materialize as Makhachev opted to wait until after Ramadan to return to competition. White suggested that a fighter's financial success can sometimes impact their drive to compete at a high frequency.