Islam Makhachev verbally agreed to Prates fight, Dana says
Prates’ manager says the champion left UFC 336 without giving a reason, and the Brazilian says, “He chickened out”
Dana White confirmed on Wednesday that Islam Makhachev had a verbal agreement to defend the UFC welterweight title against Brazil’s Carlos Prates at UFC 336 on Jan. 30, 2027, in Toronto. “Yeah, it was verbally agreed to,” the UFC CEO told reporters.
On Thursday, Prates’ manager, Lucas Lutkus, told MMA Fighting that the champion left the fight without giving the UFC a reason.
What Dana White said about Makhachev
The fight never had a signed contract, as VF Comunica reported when Makhachev dropped out of UFC 336. What is new is White saying publicly that there was a verbal deal.
White asked for more activity from his champion. “Being the champ, I don’t really expect you to fight three times a year, but twice would be nice,” he said. “What you start to do is back up the division, because lots of guys would like a shot at the title.”
He then offered an explanation. “I think it’s money,” White said. “When guys are young and hungry, they want to fight a lot because they want to get paid. But once you start to get enough money, you don’t have to fight all the time.” He added: “And for him, to be fair to Islam, look at what he’s accomplished.”
That is White’s reading. In public, Makhachev has given a different reason. In an October interview with Pound4Padel, he explained why he turned down Prates, pointing to the Brazilian’s loss to Ian Garry, a fighter Makhachev has already beaten.
The phone call to Carlos Prates’ manager
Lutkus said the plan went back to August. On Aug. 16, Makhachev said he would fight before Ramadan, which starts in February. “Bro, we have to fight before Ramadan. 100 percent,” he said at the time.
The UFC then told Prates’ team to get ready for January, and the Brazilian agreed right away.
The change came on Oct. 20. “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.”
“I don’t think even the UFC really knows what happened,” Lutkus said, adding that the promotion was “a little upset” with the champion. In his words, “with three months to go, he’s backing out of what we agreed on.”
Lutkus did rule out fear as the reason. “I’m not naive enough to think Islam Makhachev is afraid to fight Carlos Prates, but something made him change his mind,” he said.
Carlos Prates reacts to Makhachev
The fighter went further. In an interview with Brazilian commentator Laerte Viana released this week, the Fighting Nerds welterweight brought up the champion’s talk about staying busy. “He comes out saying he wants to be an active champion, this and that,” Prates said. “He chickened out.”
He said he will focus on Morales first and then go after the champion. “I’m going to come back and beat Makhachev twice as hard just to teach him a lesson,” Prates said. In late October, on X, he had already vowed to finish Makhachev’s legacy.
What comes next for the welterweight title
Prates, 24-7, faces unbeaten Ecuadorian Michael Morales, 19-0, for the interim title at UFC 336. The winner is expected to meet Makhachev, 29-1, after Ramadan.
Lutkus also said Prates’ new contract puts him among the highest-paid Brazilians in the UFC, behind Alex Pereira. “If Carlos isn’t the second-highest-paid, he’s third,” he said, while admitting he does not know what Charles Oliveira makes.
Makhachev said on Oct. 30 that his next fight will be one of his last. VF Comunica found no response from him to White or Lutkus as of publication.
Who do you think is right here: the champion picking his own date, or Prates and White calling him out for the fight that was agreed? Tell us in the comments.
Read more:
- Islam Makhachev explains why he turned down Carlos Prates
- Carlos Prates vows to finish Islam Makhachev’s legacy
- Islam Makhachev says next fight is one of his last
