“We Will Figure Out Who’s the Real Challenger” – Islam Makhachev Reveals Why He Turned Down Carlos Prates at UFC 336
The UFC welterweight title picture has taken a surprising turn, with Carlos Prates now scheduled to face Michael Morales for the interim championship at UFC 336. The pair will headline the co-main event when the promotion returns to Toronto on January 30. Prates was previously linked to a title showdown with Islam Makhachev, but those …
Islam Makhachev has revealed the reason behind his decision to turn down a fight with Carlos Prates at UFC 336. The Dagestani champion explained that he wants Prates to prove himself before earning a shot at the 170-pound title. Makhachev believes Prates lacks the necessary experience to warrant a title shot and instead wants Prates to fight Michael Morales to determine who is a true contender.
Makhachev's reasoning stems from Prates' only UFC loss, which came against Ian Garry last year, a fighter Makhachev has since defeated. By having Prates and Morales face each other, Makhachev believes the winner would already be next in line for a title shot, eliminating the need for Makhachev to fight another bout before the summer.
This decision has sparked criticism from both Prates and UFC president Dana White, who view it as Makhachev delaying the welterweight division's progress.
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