🚨 Carlos Prates reveals Michael Morales was originally set to fight Shavkat Rakhmonov before Islam Makhachev turned down a January return! According to Prates, the UFC already had plans for Morales vs. Shavkat, but things changed when Islam decided he wouldn't be available to defend his welterweight title in January. That opened the door for Prates to face Morales for the interim belt at UFC 336 instead. Via: (@laertevianamma)
Carlos Prates says the UFC's January plans for the welterweight division looked very different before Islam Makhachev opted out of a return, according to comments the Brazilian made about how his interim title opportunity came together.
Prates said Michael Morales was originally lined up to meet Shavkat Rakhmonov. That changed when Makhachev, the divisional champion, decided he would not be available to defend his belt in January. With the champion sidelined for that window, the door opened for Prates to face Morales for the interim title at UFC 336. The account comes from Prates himself and is not an official promotional announcement.
Prates, 33, enters the matchup as the number two ranked welterweight with a 24-7 record. The Brazilian has won his last three recorded fights, all by knockout or TKO: Geoff Neal in the first round at UFC 319 in August 2025, Leon Edwards in the second round at UFC 322 that November, and Jack Della Maddalena in the third round in May 2026. He lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, and his 78-inch reach is the longest of the three fighters in this story.
Makhachev, 35, holds the welterweight title at 29-1. His most recent recorded fight was a unanimous decision over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 on August 15, 2026, a five-round title defense. He has now won five straight in that stretch, including a first-round submission of Renato Moicano at UFC 311. Takedowns define his game at 3.22 per 15 minutes.
Rakhmonov, 32, remains unbeaten at 19-0, and his most recent recorded fight was a five-round unanimous decision over Machado Garry at UFC 310 in December 2024. The Kazakh stands six-foot-four and lands 3.25 significant strikes per minute at 60 percent accuracy, while averaging 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- An interim title fight at UFC 336 gives the division a lead contender while Makhachev is out of action.
- Rakhmonov, unbeaten at 19-0, was reportedly pencilled in for a different January path before the plans shifted.
- Prates brings the sport's most direct knockout form into the fight, with three straight finishes inside three rounds.
Carlos Prates vs Michael Morales
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