Michael Morales pitches potential title eliminator matchup at 170 pounds
TL;DR
Michael Morales is vying for a title eliminator matchup at 170 pounds following recent welterweight fights. Prates, who recently defeated Della Maddalena, prefers to wait for a championship bout rather than face Morales.
Key points
- Michael Morales is undefeated with a record of 19-0.
- Prates recently defeated Jack Della Maddalena at UFC Perth.
- Prates prefers to wait for a title shot instead of fighting Morales.
- Ian Garry may challenge Islam Makhachev for the title at UFC 330.
- The next welterweight title fight could be delayed until 2027.
Even after the dramatic happenings of the UFC Perth headliner, there remains a logjam in the welterweight title picture.
In an effort to separate himself from the crowded pack of contenders at 170 pounds, Prates annihilated former champ Jack Della Maddalena in the third round of a fairly one-sided beating. “The Nightmare” dropped the Aussie once in the second round and twice in the third to complete his rout, one that saw him outland his foe by 46 to 1 in the last round of their collision.
The victor wants nothing else than a Ultimate Fighting Championship championship pairing, but he might have to wait. Rumors are swirling, with Prates the originator of at least one, that Ian Garry will be challenging Islam Makhachev for the belt at UFC 330 in August. Additional options for contention include Michael Morales, Sean Brady, Ilia Topuria should he get past Justin Gaethje in June. Kamaru Usman was even floated as a potential option to face Makhachev next.
While Morales (19-0) considered himself in the race until recently, he has seemingly accepted that Garry may be ahead of him in line. Posting on his Instagram Stories on Sunday, the undefeated Ecuadorian shared a composite matchup image of himself against Prates.
Not everyone is sold on that pairing, chiefly Prates himself. Saying so at the UFC Perth post-fight press conference, Prates remarked that when not preparing for a fight, he likes to party and let himself go for a few months. His team wishes he would change his plan, but this means short turnarounds for the Brazilian are largely off the table. He suggested that he would be much more willing to wait for a championship bout than face Morales, even if it means he sits on the shelf for a while. Should Makhachev-Garry take place in August, based on championship schedules, the next welterweight title tilt may not take place until the end of the year or even early 2027.
Q&A
What are the current welterweight title contenders in the UFC?
The current contenders include Ian Garry, Michael Morales, Sean Brady, and Kamaru Usman, among others.
Why is Michael Morales seeking a fight with Prates?
Morales aims to separate himself from the crowded welterweight title picture and believes a fight with Prates could position him for a title shot.
When is the next potential welterweight title fight scheduled?
The next welterweight title fight may not occur until late 2026 or early 2027, depending on the outcome of the Makhachev-Garry bout in August.
