Makhachev Wants Prates and Morales to Settle Title Shot Inside the Octagon First

UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev believes Carlos Prates and Michael Morales should settle their own score before either gets a crack at his title. With the pair set to meet for the interim belt at UFC 336 in January, Makhachev's view is that the winner of that fight, not the contenders themselves, should be the one to face him.

The champion's comments were shared via the pound4padel.ru account.

Makhachev, 34, arrives as the division's standard-setter. The Russian southpaw is 29-1 and carries an unbeaten run of title defenses at welterweight. His most recent recorded fight was a unanimous decision over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 on August 15, and before that he beat Jack Della Maddalena by unanimous decision in November 2025. Both were five-round title fights. He lands 2.27 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy and averages 3.22 takedowns per 15 minutes, with 0.9 submission attempts over the same span.

Prates, 33, is the number two welterweight contender and fights out of Vale Top Team. The Brazilian is 24-7 and has won three straight by knockout or TKO, most recently stopping Della Maddalena in the third round on May 2. He has also finished Leon Edwards and Geoff Neal. His 3.77 significant strikes per minute and switch stance make him a volume-and-angles threat, though he averages just 0.21 takedowns per 15 minutes.

Morales, 27, is ranked third and is undefeated at 19-0. The Ecuadorian's three most recent recorded wins, over Sean Brady, Gilbert Burns and Neil Magny, all ended by knockout or TKO in the first round. He lands 5.62 significant strikes per minute, the highest rate of the three men here, at 49 percent accuracy.

Why it matters

• The UFC 336 winner would take the interim belt and move to the front of the line for Makhachev, which is the scenario the champion is endorsing.
• Both contenders are on knockout streaks, so the fight pits Prates's 78-inch reach against Morales's 79-inch reach, a one-inch gap.
• Morales is six years younger than Prates, 27 to 33, while Prates has seven losses to Morales's none.
• Either winner would present Makhachev with a striker, a stylistic contrast to the grappling-heavy challenges he has often faced.