Carlos Prates will fight Michael Morales for the interim welterweight title at UFC 336 in January, the promotion has announced.With reigning champion Islam Makhachev ruled out of the event in Toronto for unknown reasons, top-ranked 170lbs stars Prates and Morales will battle it out to see who is next in line.White said Makhachev only fights once a year on average at this point and said he wants to keep the division movingGettyThe promotion revealed the interim title fight, alongside a flyweight championship main event between Joshua Van and No. 1 contender Manel Kape, during UFC 333 on Saturday.The Abu Dhabi event witnessed Alexander Volkanovski defend his featherweight title against Movsar Evloev, while Petr Yan beat Merab Dvalishvili in an epic trilogy to retain his bantamweight throne.After the main event ended, UFC CEO Dana White took centre stage at the post-fight press conference and was asked about Makhachev’s absence and the interim title fight.And it seems White wasn’t too happy with his pound-for-pound star as he explained the thought process behind his decision.View Tweet: https://x.com/hashtag/UFC336?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwWhite talks Makhachev and UFC 336“On average, Islam fights like once a year,” White said.“He was slated for January and then said, ‘I don’t want to fight until Ramadan.’“You just can’t hold up divisions like this. You gotta keep moving. This fight [Prates vs Morales] makes sense.”White confirmed he wasn’t offered any reason from Makhachev as to why a January fight didn’t work.Prates, who was all but set to get an undisputed title shot against Makhachev until a matter of days ago, has since taken aim at the ‘cowardly’ champion for not accepting the fight.Prates and Makhachev trade verbal blows“Islam Makhachev, I’ve been working toward my dream of becoming champion for 17 years, and now you’ve postponed it,” Prates wrote on social media.Prates called Makhachev a coward for delaying his undisputed title shotGettyThe Brazilian will face Ecuadorian star Morales for the interim welterweight title at UFC 336Getty“I’m the No. 1 — I knocked out former champions while Morales only beat Sean Brady.“You told the UFC you wouldn’t be ready to fight in three months. Brother, you don’t drink, you don’t smoke, you don’t go to parties, and you can’t prepare for a fight in three months?“Let me show you how it’s done. On January 30, I’m going to knock out Michael Morales, and then I’ll come back to retire you, coward!”Makhachev responded: “I beat the guy who chased you around the Octagon for five rounds.“Shut up and go train. You’re not on my level. See you soon. Maybe.”The champion was referring to his welterweight title defence in August against Ian Machado Garry, who beat Prates by decision last year in Kansas City.Makhachev may not defend his crown until the summer of 2027GettyPrates has since knocked out Geoff Neal and former welterweight champions Leon Edwards and Jack Della Maddalena to cement his No. 1 contender spot.Morales, meanwhile, is undefeated in all seven of his UFC fights, and his last two wins came against Gilbert Burns and Brady last year.UFC ScheduleThere are still several blockbuster shows and exciting contests for fight fans to look forward to in 2026, and you can find the full list of all confirmed events and official bouts as part of talkSPORT.com’s UFC schedule.The UFC, on average, puts on 13 to 14 premium events in a calendar year, with up to 30 smaller ‘Fight Night’ cards allowing prospects and less experienced fighters to showcase their talents.On January 1, 2026, Dana White’s promotion signed a seven-year broadcast deal with CBS and Paramount+ for exclusive rights in the US, meaning the UFC has put on shows like never before this year.With the historic first event in the new Paramount era, UFC 324, delivering huge success, and a one-of-a-kind fight card at the White House in June opening up the UFC to a new audience, the promotion remains a premium global sports brand, and fans are eager to keep track of results and upcoming fights.