Brendan Schaub Clarifies Comments on Islam Makhachev

Brendan Schaub, a former UFC heavyweight, has retracted his earlier comments concerning Islam Makhachev and Muslim champions following significant criticism.

During a recent episode of his podcast, Schaub criticized Makhachev's absence from competition, noting that the lightweight champion withdrew from a January 2027 fight for undisclosed reasons, likely due to Ramadan. Schaub suggested that the UFC struggles to promote champions who are not frequently active.

In response to the backlash, Schaub clarified his remarks on social media, stating that his comments were taken out of context and that inactivity could stem from various reasons. He acknowledged Makhachev's status as a superstar and urged others to move on from the controversy. Makhachev's next title defense has not yet been scheduled, while Carlos Prates and Michael Morales are set to compete for an interim title at UFC 336 in January.