Morales Tells Prates to Quit Smoking Before UFC 336

Michael Morales has sent a warning to Carlos Prates. In a video posted on his social media, Morales said Prates had called him a coward.

"You called me a coward, but you needed ten months to get ready to fight me? Bro, I don't make excuses. I wait for my moment and take whatever opportunity comes my way. Now shut your mouth and quit smoking, because trust me, you're gonna need those lungs," Morales said.

The two meet at UFC 336 on January 30 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Welterweight champion Islam Makhachev is out for undisclosed reasons, so the UFC created an interim welterweight title for Morales and Prates to fight over. Flyweight champion Joshua Van defends his belt against Manel Kape in the main event.

Makhachev's coach, Javier Mendez, disputes the account that the champion turned the fight down. White said Makhachev did not want to face Prates in January at UFC 336. Mendez told Submission Radio the UFC never offered that fight, and that it was Prates's camp saying "We're fighting Islam," not his. "All I've ever said is the most deserving is Prates," Mendez said.

Two knockout records

Morales is 19-0 in MMA and 7-0 in the UFC, with five of those UFC wins by knockout. He joined the promotion in 2021 after earning a contract on Dana White's Contender Series, which means he has been there longer than Prates, even if he has fought less often.

Prates is 24-7 overall and 7-1 in the UFC, with all seven wins by knockout. His one UFC loss was to Ian Machado Garry. He also won his contract on the Contender Series, in 2023, and made his promotional debut in 2024.

BetOnline has Prates at -155 and Morales at +135, according to Sportsnet's Aaron Bronsteter.

Source: Heavy