Israel Adesanya and Demetrious Johnson Lay Out Islam Makhachev’s Post-Fight Future

Knowing when to walk away from mixed martial arts is the hardest puzzle a champion ever has to solve. Very few leave at the absolute summit, but former flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson and former middleweight kingpin Israel Adesanya believe Islam Makhachev already has the blueprint mapped out in front of him.

Fresh off capturing double-champ glory and taking his promotional winning streak to a historic 17 straight victories inside the Octagon, Makhachev has cemented an undeniable legacy. Yet with every milestone crossed, the question shifts from who he fights next to how much longer he needs to keep putting his body through its paces.

During a recent discussion, Johnson made it clear that Makhachev is nearing the finish line of his competitive journey, suggesting the Dagestani powerhouse only needs one or two more outings before hanging up the four-ounce gloves for good.

“I think if he gets two more or one more, I think stop chasing the dragon,” Johnson stated. “Like that’s it, let your other boys. You look at Khabib , he can still do it, but he’s still involved in the sport. He still gets that stress, he still gets that anxiety because he’s with the team, a piece of him is in that Octagon.”

Passing the Torch to the Next Wave

Adesanya nodded along in complete agreement as “Mighty Mouse” laid out the reality facing elite champions. The hardest part of stepping away isn't necessarily walking away from the competition; it’s losing the routine, the brotherhood, and the adrenaline of fight week.

For Makhachev, however, his camp provides a built-in transition. Just as UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov stepped aside to guide Makhachev and Bellator champion Usman Nurmagomedov, Makhachev has a loaded stable of teammates ready to carry the torch.

“I feel for Islam it’ll be the same thing for him,” Johnson added. “He has Usman, he has Umar , he has Shanko, he has other guys that are coming up. He can still have that connection with those guys and he doesn't need to risk his body as much.”

Having broken records across two divisions and defended his status against the sport's best pound-for-pound talent, Makhachev has virtually nothing left to prove. If he heeds the advice of two legends who understand the physical toll of staying too long, Makhachev might just walk away on his own terms, securing his health while building the next generation of champions from the corner.