UFC Books Interim Welterweight Title Fight After Makhachev Pass — SkimNews
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- Islam Makhachev declined to fight by January 30 without giving a reason, prompting the UFC to book an interim title bout, according to CEO Dana White.
- Dana White stated Makhachev typically fights once per year and pushed his return to after Ramadan, which begins in February, delaying his next bout until at least May.
- UFC scheduled an interim welterweight title fight between Carlos Prates and Michael Morales for January 30 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
- Carlos Prates has won all seven of his UFC fights by knockout, including victories over former champions Jack Della Maddalena and Leon Edwards.
- Michael Morales remains undefeated at 19-0 with five knockouts in the UFC, four of which occurred in the first round.
- Joshua Van and Manel Kape will now headline UFC 336 with a flyweight title fight, replacing Makhachev’s originally planned main event slot.
Why it matters: The UFC must create an interim title because Makhachev’s once-a-year fight schedule disrupts divisional momentum, giving Prates and Morales a fast track to gold while top contenders wait. This delays unification and risks fragmenting the welterweight division’s legitimacy.
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