Makhachev to Defend Welterweight Title Against Prates at UFC 336 on January 16

Islam Makhachev is set to defend his welterweight title against Carlos Prates in the main event of UFC 336 on January 16, according to details now emerging around the card.

The venue has not been disclosed, though Las Vegas is the expected location. A formal announcement is anticipated in November, and it could come as early as UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi. Both fighters are reportedly set to begin their official training camps within days.

Makhachev, 29-1, holds the welterweight belt. The 34-year-old Russian trains out of Eagles MMA and fights from a southpaw stance. He lands 2.27 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy, but his grappling remains the defining part of his game: he averages 3.22 takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.9 submission attempts over the same span.

Prates, 24-7, enters as the number two-ranked welterweight. The 33-year-old Brazilian, nicknamed "The Nightmare," fights out of Vale Top Team and works from a switch stance. He is the more active striker on paper, landing 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. Prates has been preparing for the matchup since July, with a focus on takedown defence and Jiu-Jitsu.

Why it matters

• Prates, as the division's number two contender, gets a direct shot at the title.
• The stylistic contrast is stark: Makhachev's takedown-heavy attack against Prates' striking volume.
• Prates' takedown average of 0.21 per 15 minutes shows he is primarily a striker, which makes his work on defending takedowns and grappling a central storyline.
• Prates holds a 78-inch reach, eight inches longer than the champion's 70 inches, and stands six-foot-one to Makhachev's five-foot-ten.

Makhachev has the edge in grappling output and a clear path to dictate where the fight takes place. Prates' camp focus suggests he is preparing for exactly that scenario.