UFC Books Prates vs Morales for Interim Welterweight Title at UFC 336

The UFC has moved to keep its welterweight division moving by booking an interim title fight between Carlos Prates and Michael Morales for UFC 336 in Toronto on January 30, 2027. The bout will crown an interim champion while the division waits on its full title picture to resolve itself. The booking follows Islam Makhachev's decision to step away from a planned January defence. Makhachev, a two-division champion with a 29-1 record who set the record for most lightweight title defences before moving up to welterweight, has said his next fight may be one of the last of his career. Rather than leave the division in limbo, the promotion has created an interim belt to preserve contender momentum into the new year. Former heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez added his voice to the Makhachev discussion on Sunday, telling the Shawn Ryan Show that he knew from early sparring sessions just how special Makhachev was, praising his skill across every area of the game. For Prates and Morales, though, the opportunity is immediate and career-defining: the winner will hold a UFC title, interim or not, and will be first in line when the undisputed picture clears. Toronto now has a championship headliner with genuine stakes.