Islam Makhachev’s decision to withdraw from negotiations for UFC 336 has become one of the biggest talking points in the MMA world this month. The reigning welterweight champion was initially expected to put his title on the line against Carlos Prates on the promotion’s January 30 card in Toronto.
However, the Dagestani had other ideas. Makhachev pointed to the growing number of contenders at 170lbs and suggested that Prates and Michael Morales should settle the No. 1 contender debate inside the Octagon rather than expect an immediate title shot.
Adding to the speculation, the champion also hinted that he was approaching the final stretch of his fighting career and had even considered retirement. His comments did not sit well with Dana White and Prates, who accused him of holding up the division. The Brazilian went a step further, suggesting that Makhachev was avoiding a fight with him.
Daniel Cormier, however, sees things differently. The former two-division champion dismissed the notion that Makhachev was ducking Prates, insisting that the Dagestani would be willing to face him regardless of where the fight takes place.
Daniel Cormier Highlights UFC Champions’ Fight Schedules While Backing Islam Makhachev
Speaking in a recent video on his YouTube channel, Cormier offered his take on the situation, saying, “Yes, Carlos Prates is frustrated, but on the other hand you have a champion – a long-reigning champion that recognizes the dangers of who he’s going to fight and the dangers of what’s at stake every time he does fight.”
Cormier explained that Makhachev’s approach to scheduling fights is hardly unusual among UFC champions. He pointed to prodigal cases like Merab Dvalishvili, who managed to fight four times in 2025, arguing that most titleholders follow a schedule similar to the Dagestani. He also dismissed the growing narrative that Makhachev is afraid to face Prates.
DC added, “Now I know people are going to say, ‘Well, DC, of course you’re going to defend Islam.’ It’s not about defending him. I’m giving you an inside perspective of a champion’s mindset and what you feel whenever you have these opportunities.”
The former two-division champion doubled down on his stance, insisting that Makhachev has no reason to avoid the Brazilian.
He said, “I listed those champions, but you can go down the line, and you will find more champions than not that are not Merab Dvalishvili fighting every single weekend. Islam’s not afraid, though. He’s not afraid. He’d probably fight Carlos Prates in the octagon, outside the octagon, in wrestling. He’d fight him anywhere. So would Prates.”
However, Cormier believes Prates has a more immediate problem to deal with before worrying about a potential title shot. The Brazilian still has to get past Morales, and DC wants him to keep his attention on that matchup rather than get caught up in the back-and-forth with Makhachev.
He explained, “Prates needs to handle the Morales issue, though. I would encourage him to forget about Islam right now, because you don’t get to him unless you get through Morales. Forget about him.”
With Ramadan expected to begin on February 8 and Makhachev observing the month-long fast, the champion could potentially return to the Octagon around the middle of 2027. That leaves Prates with a clear task in the meantime: get past Morales and strengthen his case for a shot at the welterweight title. Whether he can do that remains to be seen.
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.
