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Fighter Carlos Prates has established a clear timeframe for when UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev must return to the Octagon. The Brazilian contender spoke about the division’s title picture while preparing for his upcoming bout.
Upcoming Interim Title Fight
Makhachev was originally slated to compete against Prates at UFC 336 in January, but ultimately decided against fighting on that scheduled date. As a result of Makhachev’s choice, Prates will instead square off against Michael Morales to fight for the interim UFC welterweight title.
Despite his current focus on Morales, Prates intends to secure a championship opportunity against Makhachev once he claims the interim belt. He has formally established a deadline for the reigning champion to make his next defense.
The June Deadline and Scheduling Frustrations
In an interview with Squawka, reported by sports.yahoo.com, Prates stated that Makhachev needs to defend his championship by June or otherwise relinquish the belt.
“He should vacate his belt – not now. It’s OK – we’re going to fight for the interim belt. But after that, after Ramadan, we’re planning to fight in June or something like that, and if he says, ‘Oh, I’m not ready,’ come on. Stop. Time to retire. Is June the deadline? Yeah,” Prates told Squawka.
Prates expressed dissatisfaction with Makhachev’s frequency of appearances, comparing his approach to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s career strategy. In Prates’s view, the team prefers to compete strictly on their own terms, leading to lengthy layoffs that frustrate active contenders who prefer a busier schedule.
“I think Khabib and Islam, they’re the same. They book fights when they want, when they feel really good. Of course, it’s OK – they are the champs. When Khabib was champ, he did the same. You wait too long to fight, do maybe one fight per year. It is what it is. I don’t think it’s the right way to do things,” Prates explained to Squawka.
Retirement and Financial Success
Prates also addressed recent speculation regarding Makhachev potentially walking away from the sport, noting that accumulated earnings could be a driving factor behind a possible retirement.
“Why is Makhachev talking about retirement? Maybe he made enough money and just wants to enjoy time with his family, in his own country, take care of his family. That’s what everybody should do. At some point, you stop and take care of family, health and everything. I think he’s doing the right thing,” Prates told Squawka.
