Islam Makhachev’s decision to pull out of negotiations for UFC 336 has sparked plenty of controversy. The Dagestani was originally expected to defend his welterweight title against Carlos Prates on the January 30 card.
However, Makhachev backed out, arguing that there were too many contenders in the division and that Prates and Michael Morales needed to settle the No. 1 contender debate themselves. His decision drew criticism from both the Brazilian and Dana White. Now, Prates and Morales are set to fight for the interim welterweight title in Toronto.
With Makhachev facing backlash, his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, stepped in to defend his client. But Prates clearly isn’t done taking shots at the Dagestani.
Carlos Prates Fires Back at Ali Abdelaziz After He Defends Islam Makhachev
Defending Makhachev’s reasoning, Abdelaziz wrote on X, “You’re a contender. Islam is the champion and maybe the greatest fighter of this generation. Talk less, because he’ll make you look bad. None of you add to his legacy. He fights for passion, love of the sport, and the fans.”
If You’re a contender. Islam is the champion and maybe the greatest fighter of this generation. Talk less, because he’ll make you look bad. None of you add to his legacy. He fights for passion, love of the sport, and the fans.
— Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00) October 24, 2026
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Abdelaziz has a point when it comes to Makhachev’s incredible run. The former lightweight champion recently extended his winning streak to 17 straight fights inside the Octagon after beating Ian Garry at UFC 330.
However, Makhachev’s decision to pursue a quick turnaround before Ramadan in February was his own call. Pulling out of negotiations at the last moment has understandably frustrated Prates, who now wants to make the champion pay for it.
The Brazilian didn’t take kindly to Abdelaziz’s comments and fired back with a bold promise to end Makhachev’s legacy.
He wrote, “If he fights for passion, he would fight the number 1 contender in January. I will not add anything on his legacy; I will finish his legacy, brother. And also, he will make me look great. Mark my words.”
If he fights for passion , he would fight the number 1 contender in January . I will not add anything on his legacy , I will finish his legacy brother , and also , he will make me look great . Mark my words ✍🏾
— Carlos Prates (@thenightmare170) October 27, 2026
This isn’t exactly an ideal situation for the 29-1 Makhachev, especially with the welterweight division heating up. Prates has been on a three-fight knockout streak, with Leon Edwards and Jack Della Maddalena among his recent victims. Given that run, the Brazilian had a strong case for getting the next shot at Makhachev’s title.
Now, with the Dagestani’s return potentially pushed back by several months into mid-2027, fans could be waiting a lot longer to see the pound-for-pound great back in action. Meanwhile, Prates will have the chance to earn his shot at the undisputed title by beating Morales for the interim belt.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
