BUZZ UFC 336: Prates faces Morales for interim welterweight title as Makhachev sits out

The UFC has put a belt where Islam Makhachev's January date used to be. Carlos Prates and Michael Morales fight for the interim welterweight title at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, and the winner is expected to meet the champion in a unification fight. Makhachev's return date is still unknown.

The explanations differ. White said Makhachev was slated for January and then said he did not want to fight until after Ramadan: "You can't hold up divisions like this." Makhachev said the matchmaking made no sense to him: Prates lost to Ian Machado Garry, whom Makhachev already beat in August, and Morales would be next in line anyway. Ramadan is expected to start Feb. 7, eight days after the card, according to Knockout Daily.

Fighters and analysts have largely backed the champion. Matt Brown said Makhachev has earned the right to pick his date and asked whether the interim belt is the UFC trying to "punch Islam in the gut." Henry Cejudo said a champion wants the top contenders to fight each other first, and called Prates vs. Morales a pay-per-view main event on its own. Ariel Helwani called an interim title unwarranted, pointing out that Makhachev fought only months ago. Michael Bisping went the other way and said Makhachev was "doing an Islam" by fighting once a year and picking opponents.

The feud has turned personal. Prates called Makhachev a coward and promised to knock out Morales and then retire the champion. Makhachev's manager Ali Abdelaziz wrote on X that challengers should talk less or look foolish. Prates answered: "I will not add anything on his legacy, I will finish his legacy brother." No fight between them is signed.

In the cage it is a finisher against an unbeaten fighter. Prates, 33, is 24-7 and Morales, 27, is 19-0. Prates has three straight stoppage wins since his April 2025 loss to Garry, over Geoff Neal, Leon Edwards and Jack Della Maddalena. Morales has not fought in 2025.

The flyweight title fight on the card has its own edge. Champion Joshua Van, 25, defends against Manel Kape, who told MMA Junkie Van tries to be "a version of Manel" and promised to dictate the pace. Van replied on X that Kape should make weight and show up. Watch for how long the Toronto winner waits for Makhachev.