Is Makhachev skipping January to play GTA 6? The truth behind MMA's craziest rumor

Islam Makhachev was supposed to defend his welterweight title on January 30, 2027 at UFC 336, and he won't. And just two months earlier, on November 19, 2026, GTA 6, the most anticipated video game of the decade, hits shelves. Coincidence? A theory reached our newsroom: that the champion would rather stay home and play. We looked into it.

The rumor: no source at all

We searched specialized media in English and Spanish, general news and Makhachev's own posts on X. There's no statement from him, his team or the UFC linking his decision to GTA 6. As of today, it's just a joke with no basis whatsoever.

Why it fits so well

• Rockstar Games set GTA 6's release for November 19, 2026, after delaying it several times.
• Makhachev's exit from UFC 336 became known on October 23, less than a month earlier.
• His return is expected in the second quarter of 2027: months without fighting right as the game comes out.

That coincidence of dates is all there is behind the story.

The real reasons

• According to Dana White: Makhachev didn't want to fight until after Ramadan, which in 2027 runs from February 8 to March 8. White criticized him for fighting "once a year" and said "you can't hold up divisions like this".
• According to Makhachev: fighting Carlos Prates "does not make sense" because Prates recently lost to Ian Machado Garry, whom he already beat. He'd rather Prates and Michael Morales fight each other: "Just let them fight, and we will figure out who's the real challenger."
• And his latest message: "My next fight is one of the last in my career."

When does he return?

Makhachev will return in the second quarter of 2027 against the winner of Carlos Prates vs. Michael Morales, who fight for the interim title on January 30 in Toronto. So if he wants to play GTA 6, he'll have plenty of time… but that's not why he isn't fighting.