“Bring On”: Islam Makhachev’s Coach Oozes Confidence About Their Next Opponent

Islam Makhachev is ready to face anyone from the welterweight division. After his incredible victory at UFC 330, the talks have already started about who’s next. While currently Dana White has not pinpointed an opponent,  Makhachev’s coach, Javier Mendez, has come up with a confident statement. 

Javier Mendez is Confident About Islam Makhachev’s Skills

Mendez recently appeared in an interaction on Submission Radio. While reflecting on Makhachev’s skills inside the octagon, the veteran UFC coach was oozing confidence. He stated that there was no problem with who the UFC chooses as next. Be it Carlos Prates, Shavkat Rakhmonov, or Michael Morales, Makhachev is pretty much ready to take them on. 

Mendez said, “Bring on the next one, we're expecting to fight the best ones available. If it's Morales, great. If it's Prates, great. If it's Shavkat, great. If it's the number one guy the UFC picks, that's who we fight."

That's something only a champion’s coach can say. And Makhachev has given enough reasons to Mendez to feel so much confidence. In the UFC 330 main event, not only did Dagestani demonstrate his ground skills, but he also showed his striking. In what was a major moment in the bout, Makhachev knocked down the challenger with a vicious head kick. 

When Does Islam Makhachev Fight Next?

Makhachev just had a war for 25 minutes against Ian Garry. Yet, the champion within him is not ready to relax. Instead of opting to take an extended time off, the UFC Welterweight Champion is already making plans for when to fight next.

In a recent statement, the champion told reporters that he wishes to come back before Ramadan. “Bro we have to fight before Ramadan, 100%. January, end of [2026] we have to fight. I'm 34 years old, I have to fight as soon as possible. I'm not cutting much weight, I don't have any big injuries. That's it,” Makhachev said. 

With Makhachev ready, it now remains to be seen who the UFC puts in his firing line.