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Islam Makhachev has no plans of walking away from pro MMA competition at the conclusion of UFC 330.

Many argue that Makhachev has nothing left to prove having captured UFC gold in two weight classes and not suffering a loss since 2015. For the most part, the two-division UFC titleholder has looked dominant. Even when he was tested against fellow future UFC Hall of Famer Alexander Volkanovski, Makhachev delivered a definitive knockout win in the rematch.

Now that he's the welterweight ruler in search of his first successful title defense, it's got people talking about how much longer Makhachev will compete. Beloved UFC color commentator Joe Rogan recently said he wouldn't be surprised if the 170-pound king hangs up his gloves if he defeats Ian Machado Garry on Saturday in Philadelphia.

Fans of Makhachev can breathe a little easier after the pound-for-pound great told TMZ Sports that he isn't going anywhere for the time being (h/t Bloody Elbow).

“No, no, no. I told you I like to be UFC champion and we're still going,†Makhachev said. “It's not about numbers, about age. It's about your health, how you feel. Not everybody can feel the same at 34. That's why I feel great. No injuries. I still enjoy the sports, you know. That's why we will fight again. You will see me many more times.â€

Oftentimes, Makhachev and MMA legend Khabib Nurmagomedov will get compared given the two are childhood friends and have trained together for years. Nurmagomedov retired with a perfect 29-0 record, but many felt he still had plenty of fight left in him. It appears Makhachev will be taking a bit of a different path and is looking to keep fighting for as long as his body holds up.

Is it a good idea for Islam Makhachev to continue fighting beyond UFC 330, or do you think he should consider walking away sooner rather than later? Sound off in the comments below.

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM

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Ian Machado Garry hopes to reach legendary status by displaying dominance for the next decade.

Garry has a tall task in front of him this Saturday, but there is a reward that would mark his greatest career accomplishment to date. “The Future will be challenging Islam Makhachev for the welterweight gold in the UFC 330 main event. If Garry can emerge victorious in Philadelphia on Saturday, he'll capture UFC gold for the first time in his career.

Ahead of fight night, Garry took part in a media day scrum. The top 170-pound title challenger said he wants to carry Irish MMA throughout the next 10 years, and he believes he can be a dominant champion who will etch his name in history (via MMAJunkie).

“I'm talking about a decade of domination,†Garry said. “I'm 28 years of age. (Alexander) Volkanovski is still champion of the world. He's 38. Justin Gaethje just won a title in his third attempt. He's 38 years of age. I have 10 years of domination in this sport against the next best opponent every single time. Something that excites me has been the champion of the world, fighting the right fight, the person who deserves the title shot the most, which is something I don't feel like the UFC has always done. But that's my job as the champion, to make sure the rightful contender gets the shot every single time.â€

Garry has defeated former UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad, Carlos Prates, Geoff Neal, and Michael Page on his road to challenging for Makhachev's gold. His lone loss was a competitive five-round bout against Shavkat Rakhmonov back in late 2024.

Makhachev hasn't suffered a loss in over a decade, and he's become the No. 1-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the eyes of many experts. He enters Saturday's clash inside Xfinity Mobile Arena as a significant betting favorite, but the challenger has vowed to score a spectacular knockout to silence his doubters.

Do you see Ian Machado Garry fulfilling his goal of being dominant for the next decade, or is that a pipedream? Tell us what you think in the comments below.

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM

The promotion recently announced that Sharif Rahman has signed a
multi-fight agreement, bringing the undefeated prospect into the
bare-knuckle ranks while still in his prime.

Sharif Rahman joins BKB after building an undefeated 9-0 boxing
record

Rahman, 30, is the son of former two-time heavyweight champion
Hasim Rahman and the brother of professional boxer Hasim Rahman Jr.
His father famously stopped Lennox Lewis in 2001 to capture the
heavyweight championship.

Known as “C3,†Rahman has compiled an unblemished 9-0 professional
boxing record with four knockouts. The Baltimore native, who now
resides in Las Vegas, will attempt to carry that unbeaten record
into bare-knuckle competition.

“I’ve carried this family name my whole career and I’ve never
lost,†Rahman said via press release. “Bare-knuckle is a new test,
no gloves, no excuses, just pure skill and heart and I’m bringing
my undefeated record to BKB to prove I belong among the best in the
trigon.â€

Rahman follows several established boxers who have recently made
the move to BKB, including Victor Ortiz, JoJo Diaz, Alfredo Angulo
and Lee Selby.

His promotional debut and opponent will be announced at a later
date.