Islam Makhachev identifies Carlos Prates and Michael Morales as top challengers

UFC champion Islam Makhachev has named Carlos Prates and Michael Morales as the most significant threats to his title reign. The Dagestani fighter cited the competitive nature of his division and the difficulty of his daily training as reasons for his focus on these two opponents. While rumors circulate regarding a potential bout against Carlos Prates, Makhachev addressed the status of Shavkat Rakhmonov. The champion noted that he remains open to fighting Shavkat Rakhmonov, but suggested that the welterweight must first recover from a long-term injury. Shavkat Rakhmonov has been sidelined for nearly two years following a career-altering injury. Makhachev maintained that he is currently evaluating his next steps while preparing for the top-ranked contenders in his weight class.

• 1:30 PMYahoo Sports — Islam Makhachev names two challengers as biggest threats to his UFC title reign