Islam Makhachev Reportedly Out of UFC 336 as Dana White Offers a Cryptic Response
UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev has reportedly withdrawn from his scheduled title defense against Carlos Prates at UFC 336. While the promotion has not officially confirmed the news, Dana White described reports of the withdrawal as 'interesting,' leaving the main event status uncertain.
Why it matters
The uncertainty surrounding a major championship fight impacts the UFC's event planning and the career trajectories of top-tier athletes.
It looks like fans will have to wait a little longer to see Islam Makhachev return to the Octagon. Over the past few weeks, reports from the likes of Alvaro Colmenero suggested that the Dagestani would defend his welterweight title against Carlos Prates at UFC 336 .
Although Michael Morales served as the backup fighter for Makhachev's last fight at UFC 330, the promotion had other plans. Prates confirmed that he was next in line to face the champion after signing a new eight-fight deal with the UFC.
With UFC 336 officially scheduled for January 30 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada, fans were looking forward to the potential title fight. However, the latest reports suggest that Makhachev is no longer being considered for the card. And naturally, the news caught the attention of UFC CEO Dana White.
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