Joe Rogan doesn't see much more for Islam Makhachev to prove if he's victorious at UFC 330.
Makhachev (28-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) makes his first welterweight title defense against Ian Machado Garry (17-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) in Saturday's main event (Paramount+) at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. Rogan would love to see top contenders Carlos Prates and Michael Morales fight each other, which he sees as a possibility after UFC 330. Morales is expected to weigh in as the official backup for Saturday's main event.
"We'll see what happens. Islam may retire," Rogan said on a recent episode of "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast. "He may retire. He's done a lot. He's competed in two different weight classes and won world championships in two different weight classes.
If he beats Ian, if he submits Ian and says, 'I've had enough, I'm going to do what Khabib did, and I'm going to coach now,' I could see that. And then I could see Morales and Prates for the f*cking undisputed title."
Makhachev told MMA Junkie he has no intentions of hanging up his gloves just yet.
When it comes to the matchup with Machado Garry, Rogan sees Makhachev implementing a similar game plan as he did when he smothered Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322.
"I don't think he has any plans standing up and striking with him other than as a means to an end," Rogan said of Makhachev. "His grappling is so high level. Islam's grappling right now is at the top of the food chain."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Joe Rogan could see Islam Makhachev retiring at UFC 330: 'He's done a lot'
