Prates manager: UFC 'a little upset' with Makhachev over UFC 336 exit

Islam Makhachev will not defend the UFC welterweight title at UFC 336 on Jan. 30 in Toronto, and Carlos Prates will instead meet Michael Morales for the interim belt in the co-main event. Prates' manager, Lucas Lutkus, laid out the sequence of events, as first reported by MMA Fighting.

Lutkus said the UFC offered Prates the January date against Makhachev after UFC 330, and the Brazilian accepted immediately. UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that offer. According to Lutkus, the promotion called on Oct. 20 to say Makhachev was out, with no reason given, such as an injury. The manager said the UFC is "a little upset" with the champion over the exit. Makhachev had said he wanted to fight before Ramadan begins Feb. 7.

Makhachev, 35, is 29-1 and holds the welterweight title. The Russian is coming off a unanimous decision win over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 on Aug. 15, his most recent recorded fight. That followed a five-round decision against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 in November 2025. He lands 2.27 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy and averages 3.22 takedowns per 15 minutes.

Prates, 33, is 24-7 and ranked No. 2 at welterweight. The Brazilian knocked out Della Maddalena in the third round on May 2, his most recent recorded fight, and has three straight KO/TKO wins in the records, including stoppages of Leon Edwards and Geoff Neal. He lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy.

Morales, 27, is unbeaten at 19-0 and ranked No. 3. The Ecuadorian has stopped Sean Brady, Gilbert Burns and Neil Magny, all in the first round, in his three most recent recorded fights. He throws at a higher volume than Prates, landing 5.62 significant strikes per minute, though at a lower 49 percent accuracy.

Why it matters

• The interim title puts the No. 2 and No. 3 welterweights in a direct fight for the belt.
• Both men are tall strikers: Morales has a 79-inch reach and Prates 78 inches, a one-inch gap.
• Morales is six years younger, 27 to 33, and has the cleaner record at 19-0 against 24-7.
• Prates' manager says the title fight he accepted fell through without explanation, which leaves the champion's next move unclear.