Fighters Back Makhachev for Ducking Prates, Blast UFC
Fighters defend Islam Makhachev for skipping Carlos Prates as UFC books interim title fight vs Michael Morales at UFC 336.
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Islam Makhachev turned down a UFC offer to defend his welterweight title against Carlos Prates at UFC 336 in January in Toronto, prompting the promotion to book an interim title fight between Prates and Michael Morales instead, and several fighters are now publicly backing Makhachev's decision while questioning why the UFC needed to create an interim belt at all.
UFC CEO Dana White was reportedly unhappy that Makhachev passed on the Prates fight. Makhachev holds the 170-pound title after moving up from lightweight, where he never lost, and he's extended a win streak that dates back to October 2015. Instead of facing the No. 1 contender, Makhachev will let Prates and No. 3-ranked Morales fight for an interim strap, with the winner presumably next in line for the undisputed champion.
Why Fighters Are Siding With Makhachev
Former UFC bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo said on his Pound4Pound podcast that Makhachev's instinct to let the contenders settle things between themselves lines up with something the champion has said before. "Islam Makhachev is right on this one, I was thinking the same thing," Cejudo said. "If I was Islam, I'd be like, 'How come these guys don't fight each other? Let me fight the best dude.'" Cejudo went further, arguing the resulting matchup has real standalone value. "I personally like this even better than either one of them fighting Islam because now we get a chance to see who is going to fight Islam Makhachev. Michael Morales and Carlos Prates, that's a main event on its own. That's a pay-per-view main event."
Retired UFC welterweight Matt Brown made a similar point to MMA Fighting, framing Makhachev's leverage as earned. "When you get to that level, you get a little bit more picky and choosy, as you should, I'm not going to hate on Islam being picky and choosy about this fight," Brown said. He questioned the need for an interim title given Makhachev's activity, noting the champion fought only two months earlier. "Is the interim title the UFC trying to punch Islam in the gut? That's what it feels like here... We don't need to do this. The interim title's not going to mean anything." Brown added that if Makhachev has already committed to a return window later in the year, skipping an immediate turnaround with Prates is a reasonable ask.
What This Means for the Welterweight Picture
Carlos Prates has fought only once since last year and Michael Morales hasn't thrown a punch in 2025, which undercuts the urgency of forcing either man into an immediate undisputed title shot. That inactivity is a big part of why fighters like Brown and Cejudo see the interim belt as a manufactured storyline rather than a competitive necessity. For bettors, Prates versus Morales now becomes the fight that actually sets the market for Makhachev's next title defense. Prates brings the heavier hands and finishing instincts that have made him a live underdog narrative against anyone, while Morales is unbeaten and seen by many as the more complete technician. Whoever wins should walk into a Makhachev fight as a live but likely sizable underdog, similar to how the champion has been priced against past welterweight and lightweight contenders. Until that interim fight plays out, any futures bets on Makhachev's next opponent stay speculative, but the winner of Prates-Morales instantly becomes the most relevant name in the division's betting conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Islam Makhachev turn down Carlos Prates for UFC 336?
Islam Makhachev passed on a UFC offer to defend his welterweight title against Carlos Prates at UFC 336 in Toronto, reportedly preferring that top contenders fight each other before facing him, which led the UFC to create an interim title fight between Prates and Michael Morales instead.
What did Henry Cejudo say about Islam Makhachev skipping the Prates fight?
Henry Cejudo said on his Pound4Pound podcast that he agrees with Islam Makhachev's decision and that a Carlos Prates vs. Michael Morales fight has enough value to be a pay-per-view main event on its own.
Who is fighting for the interim welterweight title at UFC 336?
Carlos Prates will face Michael Morales for the interim UFC welterweight title at UFC 336 in January in Toronto after Islam Makhachev declined to defend his title against Prates.
