White On Makhachev Pulling Out Of UFC 336
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Islam Makhachev agreed to defend his welterweight championship in January before withdrawing from the bout, Dana White revealed Wednesday.
The UFC president told reporters during a media appearance that Makhachev had committed to facing Carlos Prates on Jan. 30 in Toronto before reversing course. As MMA Junkie and TheMacLife reported, White expressed frustration that the decision delays opportunities for other contenders waiting for their shot.
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White Wants Champions Fighting Twice Annually
"That was verbally agreed to," White said of the scrapped Prates matchup. He added he expects titleholders to compete at least twice per calendar year, though three outings might be unrealistic.
Makhachev stopped Ian Machado Garry this past August at UFC 330 in Philadelphia, marking his fourth defense since capturing gold. The 35-year-old Dagestani has stepped into the cage just four times across the last three years. After beating Garry, he requested another fight before Ramadan 2027 and specifically mentioned Prates as a target before changing plans.
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Prates will now meet unbeaten contender Michael Morales for an interim strap at the January event, with Makhachev expected to face that winner following the holy month. White called the situation a holdup for the division but did not directly criticize the champion's choice.
Photo by Dominic Kurniawan Suryaputra on Unsplash
Original reporting:
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