Prates' Coach: Morales Won't Last Past Round 2 at UFC 336

Carlos Prates' longtime coach Cristian Nogueira says Michael Morales will not survive past the second round when the two meet for the UFC interim welterweight title at UFC 336 on Jan. 30 in Toronto.

Nogueira, who has trained Prates since the Brazilian was 11 years old and still serves as his primary coach at Vale Top Team, told Sherdog the matchup caught his team off guard. The gym had already built a training camp around Islam Makhachev's wrestling, expecting Prates to get the undisputed title shot first. Instead, the interim belt fight against unbeaten Ecuadorian Michael Morales (19-0) landed on the calendar, forcing a quick pivot in strategy.

Why Prates Is Shifting His Camp Toward Boxing

Prates (24-7) is retooling his gameplan around footwork and striking rather than the takedown defense work built for Makhachev. Nogueira said the camp had been grinding on getting back to the feet and countering off scrambles, the kind of work needed against a wrestler like Makhachev. Against Morales, that emphasis moves to boxing coach Arthur Cesar, known as Ban Ban, who is sharpening Prates' lateral movement and distance management. Nogueira framed it simply: survive Morales' output early, make him miss, and let him expose himself.

"Morales tends to leave himself very exposed because he goes all-in, and that works in Prates' favor," Nogueira said. He pointed to Prates' lone UFC loss as a learning moment, saying the Brazilian got hurt trying to end a fight with one shot instead of working behind a plan. Nogueira believes that discipline has improved enough to produce a finish somewhere between the middle and end of the second round.

What This Means for Makhachev's Scouting Plan

Nogueira also addressed the theory that Makhachev's camp wanted Prates to go the distance against Morales to bank extra tape. "If the idea was to pull Islam out of this fight so Prates would have to go five rounds and he could gather more footage to study him, he'll be disappointed, because this fight won't make it to the third round," Nogueira said. He added that the plan beyond Jan. 30 is to chase Makhachev for the undisputed title five or six months later, calling him "one of the greats in the history of this sport."

Betting Angle

Morales enters as the betting favorite in most early markets given his unbeaten record and physical tools, but Prates' one-punch power makes him live in every betting line regardless of what the number says. Nogueira's comments are worth watching for bettors tracking method-of-victory and round props, since a camp publicly committing to a patient, boxing-based gameplan rather than a haymaker-hunting approach could shift value toward Prates finishing inside the distance via strikes rather than a highlight-reel knockout in round one. Anyone eyeing the under on rounds should also note Morales' own aggressive style, which Nogueira is banking on to create openings.

The interim title stakes add another layer. A finish for either fighter likely accelerates a Makhachev unification fight, which could also move how sportsbooks price any future Prates or Morales matchup with the Dagestani champion.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do Carlos Prates and Michael Morales fight?

Carlos Prates faces Michael Morales for the UFC interim welterweight title at UFC 336 on Jan. 30 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

What does Carlos Prates' coach predict will happen in the fight?

Coach Cristian Nogueira predicts Carlos Prates will finish Michael Morales between the middle and end of the second round, citing Morales' tendency to overextend when attacking.

Why was Carlos Prates training for Islam Makhachev instead of Michael Morales?

Prates' team originally expected him to get a title shot against Islam Makhachev first and had built a camp around defending takedowns before the Michael Morales interim title fight was announced.