UFC 336: Makhachev had agreed to fight Prates before pulling out, says Dana White

Dana White has given his account of Islam Makhachev's absence from UFC 336. Speaking to reporters in Las Vegas, the UFC president said the welterweight champion had verbally agreed to defend his belt against Brazil's Carlos Prates on 30 January 2027 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, then pulled out. "Yeah, it was verbally agreed to," he said, in comments reported on 5 November by DAZN and MMA Junkie.

An interim title in Toronto

The UFC responded by booking an interim welterweight title fight between Carlos Prates (24-7) and Ecuador's Michael Morales, unbeaten in 19 fights, announced during the UFC 333 broadcast in late October. Prates has three straight stoppage wins, over Geoff Neal, Leon Edwards and Jack Della Maddalena; Morales has finished his last three opponents, Neil Magny, Gilbert Burns and Sean Brady, inside the first round. The winner will face Makhachev later in 2027. The main event of the night pits flyweight champion Joshua Van against Manel Kape.

White points to money and Ramadan

Asked why Makhachev withdrew, White said he thought it was money. He added that he does not expect a champion to fight three times a year, but that twice would be nice. According to DAZN, Makhachev has chosen to wait until after Ramadan, which ends in early March 2027, before returning, with no date set. The Dagestani is reported to have suggested himself that Prates and Morales fight to decide his next challenger.

Makhachev, the former lightweight champion, won the welterweight belt in 2025 and has yet to defend it twice in a calendar year. The debate over how often champions should defend comes up regularly in the UFC, where interim belts keep a division moving when the champion is unavailable.

What about the French?

No French fighter is on the Toronto card for now. The next date for French fans remains UFC 334 on 14 November in New York, where Ciryl Gane defends his heavyweight title against Josh Hokit.