Dana White: Islam Makhachev Backed Out of Verbal Fight Deal

Dana White has revealed that UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev verbally agreed to fight Carlos Prates at UFC 336 — then backed out.

The UFC CEO confirmed the details in an interview with MMA Junkie.

“Yeah, it was verbally agreed to,” White said.

“Whenever I told you.”

The fight was scheduled for January 30, 2027, in Toronto.

Makhachev was supposed to defend his 170-pound title against Prates.

Instead, Prates will now face Michael Morales for the interim welterweight championship.

That bout will serve as the UFC 336 co-headliner.

The winner is expected to unify the belts with Makhachev after Ramadan 2027.

White said the change was not due to injury.

“He said he wouldn’t be ready for January,” the UFC CEO explained.

Prates’ manager Lucas Lutkus first broke the news of the UFC’s frustration.

“The UFC called me last Tuesday and said, ‘Islam is out,’” Lutkus told MMA Fighting.

“I asked if it was an injury, and they said Islam hadn’t given them a reason.”

Lutkus said Makhachev had repeatedly indicated he wanted the fight.

“He always said Carlos deserved it and that Morales wasn’t fighting,” Lutkus said.

“Anyway, something made him change his mind.”

The manager claimed the promotion was “a little upset” with the champion.

“The UFC doesn’t know either, and that’s why they were a little upset with Islam,” Lutkus added.

White acknowledged the frustration but stopped short of criticizing Makhachev.

“I think when you get to a position where he’s at and what he’s accomplished, who knows what he’s thinking or what he wants to do next?” White said.

Makhachev is widely regarded as the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world.

He last fought at UFC 330 in Philadelphia, where he defeated Ian Machado Garry.

That win extended his winning streak and solidified his status as the division’s top star.

Prates, meanwhile, has won all his UFC fights by knockout.

His only loss in the promotion came against Garry — the same man Makhachev just beat.

Makhachev has used that fact to justify his decision.

The Dagestani champion said Prates must first defeat Morales to prove he deserves the title shot.

Makhachev has also stated that his next fight is one of the last of his career.

He wants to face the absolute best competition available.

Prates is not satisfied with the interim title route.

He believes he already earned a shot at the undisputed belt.

Now he must defeat Morales — an undefeated contender — and then beat Makhachev to become champion.

“Double the work just because the two-division UFC champ decided to delay,” observers noted.

Prates has already sent a warning to Makhachev.

In an exclusive interview with LowKick MMA, the Brazilian outlined his plan.

“I think it’s not different from what I normally do,” Prates said.

“Just working on the takedown defence, how to get up in the right way, keep striking.”

“No secret.”

“What’s the deciding factor against Islam? I think my knockout power and the way I like to hurt my opponents also.”

Prates has been training wrestling and judo to prepare for Makhachev’s elite grappling.

He knows that takedown defense will be the key to keeping the fight standing.

Makhachev is one of the most dominant wrestlers in UFC history.

He has defeated former champions like Charles Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski, and Dustin Poirier.

His only loss came early in his career, and he has since won 15 consecutive fights.

White made clear that he wants his champions to fight more often.

“I don’t really expect you to fight three times a year, but twice would be nice,” White said.

“What you start to do is back up the division, because lots of guys would like a shot at the title.”

Makhachev has not fought more than twice in a calendar year since 2022.

He defended his lightweight title twice in 2023 before moving up to welterweight.

He won the welterweight belt by defeating Leon Edwards in 2025.

Since then, he has defended it once against Garry.

Now the division is waiting again.

Prates’ manager Lutkus said the UFC promised his fighter a title shot.

“The promotion would not break its promise to give Prates a title shot,” Lutkus said.

That is why the interim belt was created.

It ensures Prates gets his chance, even if Makhachev is not ready.

Morales, Prates’ opponent at UFC 336, is undefeated in the UFC.

He presents a serious challenge for the Brazilian.

If Prates wins, he will have earned the right to call himself interim champion.

If Morales wins, the division gets a fresh face at the top.