UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev may make his next title defense against Brazil's Carlos Prates on January 30, 2027, at UFC 336 in Toronto, Canada. The news was reported by Spanish journalist and insider Álvaro Colmenero, according to infohub.kz.
"Now Prates can train at full strength. If the negotiations are successful, we will see the Brazilian fight Makhachev on January 30 at UFC 336 in Toronto," Colmenero wrote on X.
The promotion itself has not yet officially announced the bout, nor the date and venue of the event.
Makhachev last entered the octagon on August 15 at UFC 330 in Philadelphia. The Russian defeated Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision to defend the welterweight belt for the first time. The win was his 17th in a row in the UFC. Makhachev's overall record stands at 29 wins and one loss.
Prates, in his most recent fight on May 2 in Perth, Australia, stopped former UFC champion Jack Della Maddalena early. The Brazilian ended the bout by technical knockout in the third round. Prates had also previously knocked out former champion Leon Edwards.