All signs point toward the UFC kicking off 2027 with two massive 170-pound bouts on the same night: 👑 Main Event: Islam Makhachev vs. Carlos Prates Ariel Helwani and Kolmenero hinted that UFC 336 will be headlined by the welterweight title, and knockout artist Carlos Prates (7 UFC finishes) recently confirmed he is locked in as Islam’s next challenger for January ⚔️ Co-Main Event: Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Michael Morales. Morales revealed that his return moved from December to January, ruling out both Prates and Ian Garry. Shortly after, Shavkat posted a training video on TikTok with the chilling caption: "19-0 VS 19-0" setting up an undefeated title eliminator.
The UFC is reportedly lining up a pair of 170-pound bouts to open 2027, with welterweight champion Islam Makhachev set to defend against Carlos Prates in the UFC 336 main event and Shavkat Rakhmonov facing Michael Morales in the co-main slot.
Ariel Helwani and Kolmenero both hinted that UFC 336 will be headlined by the welterweight title. Prates has said he is locked in as Makhachev's next challenger for January. The Rakhmonov-Morales pairing is less settled. Morales revealed that his return moved from December to January, which rules out both Prates and Ian Garry as his opponent. Rakhmonov then posted a TikTok training video captioned "19-0 VS 19-0," pointing toward an undefeated title eliminator. Neither booking has been officially announced by the promotion.
The fighters
Makhachev is the reigning welterweight champion at 29-1. The 34-year-old Russian trains out of Eagles MMA and is a southpaw. His grappling is the engine of his game, averaging 3.22 takedowns per 15 minutes while landing 2.27 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy.
Prates, 33, is ranked number two at welterweight and carries a 24-7 record. The Brazilian from Vale Top Team fights from a switch stance and owns a 78-inch reach. He lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, and has seven UFC finishes to his name.
Rakhmonov is unbeaten at 19-0. The 31-year-old Kazakh, known as "Nomad," trains with DAR Team and stands six-foot-four with a 77-inch reach. He lands 3.25 significant strikes per minute at a 60 percent clip, while averaging 1.4 takedowns and 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Makhachev's striking-versus-grappling test: Prates has a reach edge of roughly eight inches and heavy output, while the champion has a major takedown advantage.
- The co-main would pit two undefeated fighters in what is framed as a title eliminator, putting the next shot at the belt on the line.
- Pairing both bouts on one card would make UFC 336 a significant welterweight showcase to start the year.
Islam Makhachev vs Carlos Prates
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Shavkat Rakhmonov vs Michael Morales
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