Michael Morales will face Carlos Prates for the interim UFC welterweight title at UFC 336 on January 30 in Toronto. The matchup comes after champion Islam Makhachev turned down a fight with Prates and decided he won't return until after Ramadan. The undefeated Morales, 19-0, has knocked out Sean Brady, Gilbert Burns and Neil Magny in succession and has begun a camp for his first title shot, showing a 220-pound weight three months out from fight night.
Michael Morales is reportedly set to meet Carlos Prates for the interim UFC welterweight championship at UFC 336 on January 30, 2027, in Toronto, according to Bloody Elbow. The matchup has not been officially confirmed.
The report says the interim title fight comes after champion Islam Makhachev turned down a bout with Prates and decided he will not return until after Ramadan. Morales has reportedly begun a camp for his first title shot and was said to be at 220 pounds three months out from fight night.
Morales, 27, is unbeaten at 19-0 and ranked third at welterweight. The Ecuadorian has knocked out Sean Brady, Gilbert Burns and Neil Magny in his three most recent recorded fights, all of them first-round finishes. He lands 5.62 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy, and he averages 1.09 takedowns per 15 minutes. He stands six feet tall with a 79-inch reach.
Prates, 33, is ranked second in the division with a 24-7 record. The Brazilian from Vale Top Team has stopped Geoff Neal, Leon Edwards and Jack Della Maddalena in succession, most recently knocking out Della Maddalena in the third round on May 2, 2026. He lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, and he is a switch-stance fighter with a 78-inch reach.
Makhachev, 35, holds the welterweight title at 29-1. His most recent recorded fight was a unanimous decision win over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 on August 15, 2026.
Why it matters
- Morales and Prates are both on finishing runs, with six combined knockouts or TKOs in their last six recorded fights.
- Prates is the more active striker by volume at the top level of the stat sheet, but Morales out-lands him by 1.85 significant strikes per minute, 5.62 to 3.77.
- The reach gap is small: Morales has a one-inch edge, 79 inches to 78, and Prates is two inches taller.
- Prates is six years older than Morales, 33 against 27, and the Ecuadorian is looking to keep his unbeaten record intact in his first championship fight.
If the pairing is made official, the winner would hold the interim belt while Makhachev is out of action.
Carlos Prates vs Michael Morales
See the AI pick, live odds and the full matchup breakdown
Saturday, January 30, 2027
