A new interim welterweight champion will be crowned for early 2027.
During Saturday’s UFC 333 broadcast from Abu Dhabi, the promotion announced the first two fights for UFC 336 on Jan. 30 in Toronto. Flyweight champion Joshua Van will return to defend against top contender Manel Kape, while a surprise interim title fight between Carlos Prates and Michael Morales is also on the cards.
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Current UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev was scheduled to defend his title against Prates at the January event, but Uncrowned’s Ariel Helwani reported Friday that Makhachev was ultimately unable to make that date. UFC CEO Dana White explained the situation during the UFC 333 post-fight press conference.
“On average, Islam fights once a year, and it was scheduled for January and then he said I don’t want to fight until Ramadan,” White told reporters backstage. “You can’t maintain divisions like this. You have to keep moving forward, and this fight makes sense.”
White added that no reason had been given to him as to why Makhachev wanted to wait, but the reigning champion and pound-for-pound great has already commented on social media. When a fan asked when we might see him again, Makhachev responded:
“As soon as we know who the real competitor is, we will be right back!!!”
Shortly after the UFC 336 interim title announcement, Prates also took to social media to question how long it takes Makhachev to prepare for a fight.
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Prates said:
“I worked for my dream of being champion at 17, and now you postponed it. I’m number 1, I knocked out two former champions while Morales only beat Sean Brady. You told the UFC you wouldn’t be ready to fight in 3 months. Bro, you don’t drink, you don’t smoke, you don’t party and you can’t prepare for a fight in three months? 😂😂
“Let me show you how to do it. On January 30, I will eliminate Michael Morales, and then I will come back to remove you, fujão!”
Makhachev hit back quickly, referring to each of his own fights against Ian Machado Garry, who Prates came up short against in April 2025. Makhachev, meanwhile, successfully defended his title against Garry via unanimous decision at UFC 330 in August.
Makhachev wrote:
“I just beat the guy who chased you for five rounds in the Octagon. Shut up and go train. You’re not on my level. See you soon. #maybe”
Prates (24-7) has been on a stunning three-fight winning streak since losing to Garry, knocking out former champions Jack Della Maddalena and Leon Edwards.
Morales (19-0), on the other hand, last scored a dominant first-round victory over Sean Brady in November at UFC 322 – the same night Makhachev won welterweight gold against Della Maddalena.
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