Islam Makhachev will not fight before spring 2027 at the earliest: he turned down a January date, and the UFC booked Carlos Prates vs Michael Morales for the interim welterweight title at UFC 336 on January 30 instead. According to Sherdog, the winner is expected to face him, potentially next summer. Here is what each side has said.
Key takeaways
- Islam Makhachev beat Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision at UFC 330 on August 15, his last fight.
- Dana White says Makhachev was slated for January, then said he did not want to fight until after Ramadan, which runs from about February 7 to March 8, 2027.
- Makhachev says he was offered Prates and preferred to let Prates and Morales fight to find the real challenger.
When will Islam Makhachev fight again?
Not in January
The UFC announced on October 24, during the UFC 333 broadcast, Prates vs Morales for the interim title on January 30 in Toronto. Dana White said Makhachev was slated for January before pulling out.
After Ramadan
“He was slated for January and then said I don’t want to fight until after Ramadan,” White said, according to Uncrowned. Ramadan 2027 runs from about February 7 to March 8, according to SB Nation.
A unification bout
According to Sherdog, the Toronto winner is expected to face Makhachev in a title unification bout, potentially next summer. No date has been set.
What Makhachev and his camp say
His version
To the Russian site pound4padel.ru, as reported by SB Nation, Makhachev said he was offered Prates, who had lost to Garry, a fighter he beat. He wants Prates and Morales to settle who the real challenger is.
His coach
Javier Mendez told Submission Radio that “there was never, ever a match set” on their side, while saying Prates is the most deserving contender.
A change of tone
In August, after UFC 330, Makhachev said he had to fight before Ramadan, in January or at the end of 2026, as we reported. That window is now closed.
Just let them fight and we will figure out who is the real challenger.
What to watch
January 30
Carlos Prates (24-7) and Michael Morales (19-0) meet in the co-main event of UFC 336 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
The date of the unification
The UFC has not announced when the winner will face Makhachev. An announcement in the spring would confirm the summer timeline.
Follow the welterweight division
Islam Makhachev, Carlos Prates and Michael Morales have their profile, record and rating in the FightHub app.
- Prates vs Morales for the interim welterweight title at UFC 336 as Makhachev sits out January
- UFC Dallas on January 16, 2027: the UFC opens its new year at the American Airlines Center
- Islam Makhachev Has Put a Number on the End of His Career: Three
- Carlos Prates says the UFC promised him the title shot against Islam Makhachev
