Makhachev's UFC 336 withdrawal leaves UFC 'upset' and Prates chasing interim gold instead

Carlos Prates will fight for an interim UFC welterweight title rather than the undisputed belt at UFC 336 on January 30 in Toronto, after champion Islam Makhachev withdrew from their scheduled bout without providing a reason — a development that left the UFC itself frustrated, according to Prates’ manager.

Lucas Lutkus told MMA Fighting that Prates was verbally promised a shot at the 170-pound title immediately after knocking out former champion Jack Della Maddalena in the main event of UFC Perth in May, three months before Makhachev successfully defended against Ian Machado Garry. Following UFC 330, Prates was formally offered the January date against Makhachev and accepted without hesitation — a timeline UFC CEO Dana White has confirmed.

“Islam said at the press conference that he wanted to fight before Ramadan,” Lutkus said. “And the UFC had already told us that the plan was to have this fight at the first numbered event in January. ‘Get ready for that date.’”

Makhachev had been emphatic about his intentions as recently as August 16. “Bro, we have to fight before Ramadan. 100 percent. January, end of the year, I have to fight,” the champion said. “Because I’m not like 20-something, I’m 34 years old and I have to fight soon as possible.”

The situation shifted on October 20, when the UFC contacted Lutkus to say Makhachev would not be ready for January. No injury was cited.

“The UFC called me last Tuesday and said, ‘Islam is out,’” Lutkus said. “I asked if it was an injury, and they said Islam hadn’t given them a reason. He had only said he wouldn’t be ready for January.”

Lutkus added that the UFC appeared equally in the dark. “I don’t think even the UFC really knows what happened, because Islam comes out of the fight with Ian Garry, takes the microphone, and says, ‘I’m going to fight before Ramadan.’ His coaches say Prates is the most deserving contender, too. There was even a quick encounter backstage after the fight in Philadelphia, and everything was understood.”

Makhachev has since suggested Prates and Morales should fight each other to determine “a true worthy contender” — a position Lutkus pushed back on sharply.

“This talk from Islam about there being so many contenders doesn’t hold up,” Lutkus said. “He might be saying that now, but he’s changing his tune from what he said right after the fight in Philadelphia. He always said Carlos deserved it and that Morales wasn’t fighting. Something made him change his mind. I’m not naive enough to think Islam Makhachev is afraid to fight Carlos Prates, but something made him change his mind.”

Prates vs. Morales for the interim welterweight title is set as the co-main event of UFC 336, with the winner positioning themselves as the mandatory challenger to Makhachev’s undisputed belt.