The UFC welterweight division will crown an interim champion in January. Unbeaten Michael Morales will face Carlos Prates for the belt at UFC 336 in Toronto on Jan. 30, UFC CEO Dana White said Saturday after UFC 333.

White said the interim title became necessary because champion Islam Makhachev did not want to fight on that timeline. Makhachev had been slated to headline the Toronto card.

"Islam, on average, fights once a year," White said. "He was slated for January and then said, 'I don't want to fight until after Ramadan.' You can't hold up divisions like this."

When Makhachev could return

Ramadan begins in February. White said that pushes the 29-1 champion's next fight to May at the earliest.

Makhachev answered a fan's question on X with a short message of his own. "As soon as we find out who the real contender is, we'll be right back!!!" he wrote.

Two finishers with a shot

Morales is 19-0 as a pro and 7-0 in the UFC. Five of those UFC wins came by knockout and four of them ended in the first round. The fighter from Ecuador has quickly become one of the most feared young welterweights in the sport.

Prates is 24-7 overall and 7-1 since joining the UFC in 2024. Every one of his seven UFC wins has come by knockout. That list includes former champions Jack Della Maddalena and Leon Edwards.

The rest of the card

UFC 336 will be held at Scotiabank Arena. A flyweight title fight between champion Joshua Van (18-2) and Manel Kape (23-7) will headline the event with the interim welterweight bout as the co-main event.