Makhachev vs. Prates reportedly targeted for UFC welterweight title fight on January 30, 2027

A UFC welterweight title fight between champion Islam Makhachev and Carlos Prates is reportedly being targeted for January 30, 2027, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. The booking has not been officially confirmed.

The same report suggests Michael Morales and Shavkat Rakhmonov could meet in the co-main event on the same card, with the winner possibly earning the next shot at welterweight gold. That pairing is also unconfirmed.

Makhachev, a 34-year-old from Russia who trains with Eagles MMA, holds the welterweight title with a 29-1 record. The southpaw lands 2.27 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy, but grappling remains his calling card: he averages 3.22 takedowns per 15 minutes.

Prates, 33, is ranked No. 2 at welterweight and carries a 24-7 record. The Brazilian from Vale Top Team fights from a switch stance and is the more voluminous striker of the pair, landing 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. He has a 78-inch reach, eight inches longer than the champion's 70 inches, and stands six-foot-one to Makhachev's five-foot-ten. Takedowns are rare in his game, at 0.21 per 15 minutes.

Rakhmonov, 31, is undefeated at 19-0. The Kazakh fighter from DAR Team stands six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach and lands 3.25 significant strikes per minute at 60 percent accuracy. He also averages 1.4 takedowns and 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• A Makhachev-Prates fight would pit the champion's wrestling-heavy pressure against a long, high-volume striker ranked second in the division.
• Rakhmonov's unbeaten record would be on the line in the reported co-main event.
• The possibility of the winner of Morales vs. Rakhmonov earning the next title shot would give the card added divisional weight.

Nothing has been officially announced by the UFC, and the matchups could change before any bout agreements are finalized.