Michael Morales says neither Ian Garry nor Carlos Prates wants to fight him

The unbeaten welterweight says he has accepted a January fight against another opponent, and hopes to fight for the title in June if he wins.

By Combat Sports UK Staff · Published Sat 3 Oct, 05:49 UK · AI-assisted reporting

Michael Morales speaking at a press conference — Juan Fran Rueda

Michael Morales says he has a fight agreed for January, and that it is not against Ian Machado Garry or Carlos Prates because "neither of them wants to fight".

"I already have a fight agreed," Morales said at a press conference, speaking in Spanish. "I was in Vegas talking about it, because they hadn't given me a fight for a whole year. We were pushing to see if we could fight in December, but it won't happen in December, it will be January. A very strong opponent - it's neither Prates nor Garry, neither of them wants to fight."

He did not name the opponent. "We accepted the January fight, which is the last fight I have before fighting for the title," he said. "God willing, I have to win that fight and then we go on to fight for the title in June, God willing."

It comes less than a fortnight after Morales shared messages with Garry that appeared to show the pair agreeing to fight in Saudi Arabia on 28 November. In them Garry said he had been told Morales was unavailable, and Morales replied: "I fight whenever you want." Morales had been the backup for the UFC 330 main event.

The UFC has not announced a January fight for Morales, and a June title shot is his plan rather than a booking.