A welterweight title bout between Islam Makhachev and Carlos Prates is no longer expected to headline UFC 336 on Jan. 30 in Toronto, sources told Uncrowned's Ariel Helwani.
Makhachev-Prates was the original plan for the main event, but the date no longer works for Makhachev, Helwani reports. Rumors began circulating on social media last week that the matchup was in the works for the Toronto event.
It's unclear what matchup will headline UFC 336 instead.
Makhachev made his first 170-pound title defense at UFC 330 in August, defeating Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision. The 34-year-old Dagestani claimed the title - and became a two-division champion - in a rout of Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 last November.
Prates, ranked No. 1 in the welterweight division, is coming off a brutal knockout of Della Maddalena at UFC Perth in May. The 33-year-old Brazilian is riding a three-fight winning streak that also includes highlight-reel knockouts of Geoff Neal and former champion Leon Edwards.
UFC 336 is set to be the promotion's first event in Toronto since January 2024.
