Carlos Prates has a new title opponent after Islam Makhachev reportedly pulled out of their scheduled UFC 336 fight.
Prates will face Michael Morales for the interim welterweight championship at the Jan. 30 event in Toronto, the UFC announced Saturday.
Joshua Van will face Manel Kape for the flyweight title as the co-main event of the card.
UFC 336 is scheduled to take place on Saturday, January 30 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
When asked if Makhachev was potentially being ruled out of the title fight, UFC CEO Dana White said Friday that only early reports were “interesting.”
Commentator Jon Anik said on the Paramount show that the UFC initially worked with Makhachev on planning a title defense for January.
“They held that date for them. They informed him earlier this week that he would not be ready to compete, as was previously planned,” Anik said.
Anik noted that Makhachev’s next title defense would likely be pushed back to between May and July due to the start of Ramadan in February. White said Saturday that Makhachev did not give a reason for not fighting in January.
Makhachev last defended his welterweight title against Ian Garry at UFC 330 in August. He complained before the fight. Morales needed more action because there were too many contenders for the belt.
Morales last fought in November 2025, when he defeated Sean Brady for his seventh straight victory at UFC 322. Prates was most recently in action in May when he defeated former welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena at UFC Fight Night in Perth, Australia.
Van has twice defended his undisputed flyweight title, most recently in September with a victory over Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331. He will look to retain his belt against Kape, who enters the fight with a four-fight TKO winning streak.
Gn sports
