Makhachev explains why he turned down Prates fight in early 2027

UFC champion Islam Makhachev has clarified his decision not to face Carlos Prates early next year.

In recent weeks, speculation swirled throughout the MMA world that Makhachev would defend his welterweight title against Prates at UFC 336 in January. On Saturday, the promotion officially put an end to those rumors. Instead, Prates will take on Michael Morales for the interim championship at UFC 336, with the winner set to meet Makhachev in a title unification bout later in the year.

UFC CEO Dana White explained that Makhachev preferred to stay out of the Octagon until after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. On Sunday, the Russian champion offered his own perspective and explained why he passed on the matchup with Prates.

"I was offered a fight against Prates, who recently lost to Ian Machado Garry—a guy I already beat. If I beat him too, next in line would be Morales, who isn't fighting and is just sitting out waiting for a title shot. The fairest thing is for them to face each other to see who the real challenger is."

Ramadan runs from February 7 to March 8 in 2027, making Makhachev's return to the Octagon unlikely before the summer.