UFC announced the fight for the title of interim champion in weight Makhachev
Ecuadorian Michael Morales and Brazilian Carlos Prates will compete for the temporary welterweight title
Brazilian Carlos Prates and Ecuadorian Michael Morales will fight for the temporary UFC title in the welterweight category. This was announced at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi.
The match will take place at UFC 336 on January 30 in Toronto.
The holder of the UFC championship title in this weight category, Russian Islam Makhachev, will hold the next fight no earlier than May 2027.
On account of 33-year-old Prathes 24 wins with seven defeats in MMA. Morales, 27, has 19 wins and no defeats.
34-year-old Makhachev is the first Russian to win the title of UFC champion in two weight categories. In 2025, he left the lightweight belt, which he owned since October 2022, and moved to welterweight. In November 2025, Makhachev defeated Australian Jack Della Maddalena and became the champion in the new category. In the last match on August 16, the Russian defeated the Irishman Ian Harry and defended the title.
