A prominent UFC welterweight contender has shared his perspective on who poses the greatest challenge to Islam Makhachev’s championship status and which fighter possesses the skills to potentially unseat him.
Makhachev, who holds titles in two weight classes and is currently the pound-for-pound king, is anticipated to make his next title defense in August. Despite a recent hand injury, recent training footage suggests his recovery is complete, and he is preparing for his upcoming bout. Potential opponents mentioned include Ian Machado Garry and Michael Morales.
Gilbert Burns Analyzes Makhachev’s Potential Challengers
Despite his own knockout loss to Michael Morales in a welterweight bout in 2025, Gilbert Burns believes that while Morales is a physically imposing opponent, he may not present the most difficult challenge for Makhachev. During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Burns elaborated on his thoughts regarding fighters who could potentially dethrone the Dagestani champion.
“I believe Ian [Machado] Garry presents a very tough fight for Islam [Makhachev]. He’s incredibly fast, possesses dangerous knees, and is improving his jiu-jitsu. I consider both Ian Garry and Kamaru Usman to be extremely difficult matchups for Islam Makhachev, not easy at all. They are tall, big, have good reach, and ample experience.”
Regarding Michael Morales, Burns acknowledged his significant size and power, which could be a factor against Makhachev. However, Burns suggested that Makhachev’s superior grappling and technical skills would likely allow him to control, tire out, and potentially finish Morales in the later rounds, should they ever face each other.
Gilbert Burns himself is currently on a four-fight losing streak and is scheduled to compete against Mike Malott in the main event of UFC Winnipeg this weekend, aiming to return to the win column.