Dana White: Makhachev Verbally Agreed to UFC 336, Pulled Out
Dana White says Islam Makhachev verbally agreed to defend his UFC title at UFC 336 before pulling out of the fight.
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Islam Makhachev verbally agreed to defend his UFC welterweight title against Carlos Prates at UFC 336 before backing out of the January matchup, according to UFC CEO Dana White.
White confirmed the agreement fell apart after Makhachev decided he did not want to fight in January, leaving the promotion to scramble for a replacement main event. Instead of a Makhachev title defense, UFC 336 will now be headlined by an interim welterweight title fight between Carlos Prates and Michael Morales.
White said he's not frustrated with his champion personally, but he made clear the inactivity has consequences for the 170-pound division. "As a champion, I don't really expect you to fight three times a year. But twice would be nice," White said. "It backs up the division, there are many guys who would like a shot for a title."
Why Makhachev's Inactivity Is a Problem for Welterweight
Makhachev is widely considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the sport, but he has fought just four times over the past three years. That pace is already slow for a champion carrying two divisions worth of expectations, and pulling out of a verbally agreed fight after Prates and the rest of the welterweight contenders had presumably started preparing only adds to the frustration. White's comment about backing up the division is a direct acknowledgment that names like Morales, and whoever wins the interim belt, are now stuck waiting on a unification fight that has no clear timetable.
What It Means for Prates vs. Morales
Carlos Prates and Michael Morales now fight for interim gold instead of a shot at the undisputed title, which changes the stakes but not the opportunity. Prates enters the fight ranked in the top tier of the division, and Morales is unbeaten and has been pushing for a title opportunity of his own. Whoever leaves UFC 336 with interim gold will be the one Makhachev likely has to face next if he returns to 170 pounds, making this fight a de facto number-one contender bout with a belt attached.
Betting Angle
Markets have installed Prates as the favorite over Morales for the interim title fight, with the line reflecting Prates' experience and finishing power against an unbeaten but less tested Morales. For bettors, the bigger market implication is downstream: an interim champion typically needs to wait on a unification bout, so anyone looking at future Makhachev props or welterweight title-fight futures should expect that timeline to stretch further given his four-fights-in-three-years pace. Until the UFC gets clarity on when Makhachev returns, expect sportsbooks to treat the winner of Prates-Morales as a placeholder champion rather than a true betting favorite over Makhachev himself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Islam Makhachev agree to fight Carlos Prates at UFC 336?
Yes, according to UFC CEO Dana White, Islam Makhachev verbally agreed to defend his welterweight title against Carlos Prates at UFC 336 before pulling out of the fight.
Why isn't Islam Makhachev fighting at UFC 336?
Dana White said Islam Makhachev did not want to fight in January, scrapping the planned title defense against Carlos Prates at UFC 336.
Who is fighting for the UFC welterweight title at UFC 336 instead of Makhachev?
Carlos Prates will face Michael Morales for the interim UFC welterweight title at UFC 336 after Islam Makhachev withdrew from the booking.
