Islam Makhachev waits until after Ramadan following Ian Garry win, says White

UFC CEO Dana White said the welterweight champion, slated to fight in January, told the promotion he did not want to compete until after Ramadan, prompting a new belt at UFC 336.

Carlos Prates and Michael Morales will fight for an interim UFC welterweight title at UFC 336 because Islam Makhachev would not return until after Ramadan, Dana White said.

Prates was originally set to challenge Makhachev in the UFC 336 main event before the champion became unavailable. Speaking at the UFC 333 post-fight press conference on Saturday, White said Makhachev had been slated for January but then told the promotion he did not want to fight until after Ramadan. In 2027, Ramadan is observed from 8 February to 8 March, and Makhachev always avoids fighting during that period because of his religion.

There had been speculation that an injury was behind the delay, but White was adamant that Makhachev gave no reason for it.

The UFC CEO also explained why the promotion chose to introduce a new belt rather than bill Prates v Morales as a No 1 contender's fight. White said: “On average, Islam fights like one time a year.” He added: “You can’t hold up divisions like this. You’ve got to keep moving and this fight makes sense.” Makhachev last fought in August, when he beat Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision in a welterweight title defence. It was mentioned during the UFC 333 broadcast that he could be ready to return as soon as May, but the UFC opted not to wait that long. The winner of Prates v Morales is expected to face Makhachev when he is ready to fight again.

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