Michael Morales Calls Out Makhachev, Prates, Garry

Michael Morales used a video released Sunday to call out the entire UFC welterweight division, demanding a title shot against Islam Makhachev while also taking aim at Carlos Prates, Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Machado Garry.

Morales is 7-0 in the UFC and hasn't fought since a run of first-round knockouts over Sean Brady, Gilbert Burns and Neil Magny, a stretch that made him one of the division's scariest names at 170 pounds. He's now approaching a full year on the sidelines, and with the UFC's early 2026 schedule filling in without him, his return may not come until 2027. That layoff hasn't softened his message.

Morales Wants Makhachev Next, No More Excuses

Morales directly challenged Makhachev for the welterweight title, reminding the champion of past comments in his favor. "Islam, since you came to my division and took the belt, I have been asking for the fight," Morales said. "You know who I am. You said Morales is way more dangerous. You also said I need one more fight, and about Prates and me, you said, 'Let them fight.' Alright, I respect that, but after that, no more excuses. You and me for the belt."

He didn't stop there. Morales called out Prates by name, referencing Prates' own comments about their matchup. "Prates, you said UFC never offered you the fight with me," Morales said. "You said you will knock me out in the first round. Perfect, bro, let's do it. You and me, Deadpool vs. Spider-Man. You want the belt? I want the belt." He then pointed to a third option for 2027 if the UFC looks elsewhere, calling Rakhmonov "the final boss of this division" and adding, "you know where to find me."

Morales had a far shorter message for Garry: "Oh, I almost forgot about you. F*ck you, Ian Garry."

Garry Fires Back

Garry responded Monday with a clip of a previous exchange between the two and a pointed caption accusing Morales of stalling. He wrote that he had already agreed to a bout, with a date and main event slot in place, and claimed Morales was publicly making excuses while sending a different message privately. Garry also questioned how long it's been since Morales last competed.

The back-and-forth comes with context on both sides. Garry lost a unanimous decision to Makhachev at UFC 330 in August and has said he intends to fight his way back into title contention. Morales, notably, served as the backup fighter for that same title bout, putting him directly in the Makhachev conversation already.

Betting Angle

Markets have no reason to move yet since nothing here is an official UFC booking, but the matchups being floated matter for futures bettors watching the welterweight title picture. Prates enters any Makhachev conversation with momentum after a dominant knockout win over former champion Jack Della Maddalena in May, while Morales carries the eye-catching finishing rate but a lengthy layoff that sportsbooks typically price in as a question mark until a fighter is back in the cage. Rakhmonov remains the wild card, sidelined since December 2024, and his health status will matter more than anything said in a callout video if he ever reenters this picture. For now, bettors should treat any Morales fight, whoever it's against, as speculative until the UFC makes it official.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who did Michael Morales call out?

Michael Morales called out UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev for a title shot, while also naming Carlos Prates, Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Machado Garry as potential opponents.

What is Michael Morales' UFC record?

Michael Morales is undefeated at 7-0 in the UFC, with his last three wins coming via first-round knockout over Sean Brady, Gilbert Burns and Neil Magny.

How did Ian Machado Garry respond to Michael Morales?

Ian Machado Garry responded with a video clip and a caption accusing Morales of making public excuses while sending a different message privately, following his unanimous decision loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 330.