UFC books Prates–Morales interim title fight after Makhachev declines January date
Dana White said the welterweight champion wanted to wait until after Ramadan. The interim bout is set for UFC 336 in Toronto on January 30.
The UFC booked Carlos Prates and Michael Morales for an interim welterweight title fight at UFC 336 on January 30 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto after champion Islam Makhachev declined a January fight, UFC CEO Dana White said Saturday, October 24. The booking gives the division a title fight while Makhachev waits to return.
White said Makhachev had been slated to fight on the Toronto card but told the UFC he did not want to compete until after Ramadan. ‘You can't hold up divisions like this,’ White said, according to ESPN. White said Makhachev did not specify why he wanted to wait, CBS Sports reported.
UFC 336 title fight and the contenders
The interim welterweight fight is scheduled as the co-main event, ESPN reported. A flyweight title fight between Joshua Van and Manel Kape is set to headline UFC 336. The arrangement puts Prates and Morales in a title bout without the undisputed champion on the card.
Prates is 7-1 in the UFC since his 2024 debut, with all seven wins coming by knockout, according to ESPN. His wins include victories over former champions Jack Della Maddalena and Leon Edwards. His sole UFC loss came against Ian Machado Garry, CBS Sports reported.
Morales is unbeaten at 19-0 overall and 7-0 in the UFC, ESPN reported. Five of his UFC wins have come by knockout, four in the first round. The January booking pairs two contenders with unbeaten or near-unbeaten UFC records for the interim belt.
Makhachev and Prates exchange responses
Prates expressed frustration on social media over the postponed opportunity to face Makhachev. ‘I've been working for my dream to be a champion at 17 years old, and now you postponed it,’ he wrote, according to CBS Sports. He said he would knock out Morales on January 30 and then return to fight Makhachev.
Makhachev answered Prates on X, referring to his own win over the opponent who had pursued Prates for five rounds. ‘Shut up and go train. You’re not on my level. See you soon. #maybe,’ he wrote, according to HEAVY, whose report was republished by Yahoo Sports.
In a separate response on X, Makhachev wrote, ‘As soon as we find out who the real contender is, we'll be right back!!!’ ESPN reported. Makhachev defended the welterweight title against Garry in August, CBS Sports reported. White’s account establishes why the UFC made the interim booking; Makhachev has not given a reason for declining the January date.
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Sources and context
- Dana White explains why UFC booked Carlos Prates vs. Michael Morales: 'You can't hold up divisions like this'CBS Sports
- Islam Makhachev Sends Stern Warning to Carlos PratesHEAVY, republished by Yahoo Sports
- UFC's White: Interim title bout booked after Makhachev declined without reasonESPN; by Brett Okamoto
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.