Henry Cejudo Defends Islam Makhachev Over Decision To Bypass Carlos Prates At UFC 336

Former UFC champion Henry Cejudo publicly backed Islam Makhachev on the Pound 4 Pound podcast, arguing the welterweight champion made the right call to bypass Carlos Prates at UFC 336.

The debate over the welterweight championship picture has intensified following recent matchmaking developments.

UFC CEO Dana White recently criticized Makhachev for withdrawing from a planned appearance in January.

White claimed that the reigning champion had previously accepted the bout in verbal discussions.

Makhachev decided against taking the fight, opting instead to delay his return until after Ramadan.

That choice prompted intense criticism from UFC leadership and rival contenders alike.

Yet Cejudo believes the champion is acting entirely within reason.

CEJUDO BACKS THE CHAMPION

Speaking directly to co-host Kamaru Usman, Cejudo made his position abundantly clear.

"Islam Makhachev is right on this one, Kamaru," Henry Cejudo said on the podcast.

Cejudo understands the mindset of an athlete sitting at the summit of a division.

The former two-division titleholder argued that champions should not always be rushed into facing fresh challengers.

Instead, top-tier contenders should be forced to establish undisputed supremacy among themselves.

"As a champion, you want the number one contenders to fight each other," Cejudo explained.

From Cejudo's perspective, Makhachev is merely enforcing a traditional standard of meritocracy.

A champion risks their title and legacy every time they enter the cage.

Allowing contenders to face each other first creates a clear, undeniable mandatory challenger.

It also adds prestige and pay-per-view value to the eventual title clash.

THE FALLOUT OVER UFC 336

The controversy began when plans were formulated for UFC 336 on January 30, 2027.

The promotion aimed to feature Makhachev in the main event defense against Carlos Prates.

Dana White addressed the situation publicly while attending a media event to promote his bull, Playmate.

White confirmed that negotiations had reached an advanced stage prior to the cancellation.

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

White expressed clear frustration with Makhachev's choice to step away from the proposed date.

“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.

The UFC boss reiterated his long-standing preference for active champions.

“But, obviously, I like when guys fight a lot,” White continued.

“Being the champ, I don’t really expect you to fight three times a year, but twice would be nice,” he stated.

White warned that long absences have a damaging ripple effect across weight classes.

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

MAKHACHEV STANDS HIS GROUND

Makhachev has remained firm regarding his competitive standards.

The champion publicly stated that Prates still needs to prove himself before earning a championship opportunity.

Makhachev last competed in August at UFC 330.

During that event, Makhachev successfully defended his welterweight title against Ian Machado Garry.

That victory marked his first defense of the welterweight crown.

Machado Garry had previously secured a victory over Prates.

Because of that promotional lineage, Makhachev argued that a matchup with Prates offered minimal merit.

Defeating an opponent who already lost to a fighter Makhachev just beat provides little competitive upside.

Makhachev felt the matchup would do almost nothing to enhance his overall fighting resume.

He demanded that the division sort itself out before calling on the champion to return.

THE FINANCIAL QUESTION

Dana White offered his own theory regarding Makhachev’s reluctance to compete in January.

The UFC CEO suggested that compensation and wealth accumulation play a defining role.

“I think it’s money,” White said.

White explained that a fighter’s motivation often shifts after achieving massive financial security.

“Once you get so much money — when guys are young and hungry, they want to fight a lot because they want to get paid,” White stated.

“But once you start to get enough money, you don’t have to fight all the time,” he added.

Despite his clear annoyance, White acknowledged Makhachev’s exceptional career achievements.

“And for him, to be fair to Islam, look at what he’s accomplished,” White said.

This is not the first time scheduling friction has surfaced around the champion.

At the post-fight press conference for UFC 333, White revealed that Makhachev did not want to compete until after Ramadan.

White previously defended Makhachev when rumors claimed he turned down a fight against Ilia Topuria.

“That’s not true,” White said at the time.

“It was never Islam versus Ilia Topuria,” the UFC CEO clarified.