TLDR
- Michael Morales called out Islam Makhachev, claiming the champion views Carlos Prates as an easier opponent than him
- Morales challenged Prates to a title eliminator fight, describing it as ‘Deadpool vs. Spider-Man’
- The Ecuadorian fighter named Shavkat Rakhmonov as the ‘final boss’ he wants to face in 2027
- Ian Garry responded to Morales’ callout by claiming a fight date between them is already locked in
- Morales last fought Sean Brady at UFC 322 and plans one more fight before his first title shot
Sources: sherdog.com | mmasucka.com
Undefeated welterweight contender Michael Morales has called out multiple fighters in the UFC’s 170-pound division, including champion Islam Makhachev and top contender Carlos Prates. The 27-year-old Ecuadorian fighter posted a message on Instagram targeting the division’s elite.
Morales responded directly to comments Makhachev made about him needing one more fight before getting a title shot. The champion had previously suggested that Morales and Prates should fight each other in a title eliminator bout.
If Morales fights like this against an elite counter puncher like Carlos Prates does he even make it out of Round 1? pic.twitter.com/DBbq8z7Iyt
— CageMath (@ThatCageMathGuy) October 4, 2026
“Islam, since you came to my division and took the belt, I have been asking for the fight,” Morales said in his Instagram post. “You know who I am. You said, ‘Morales is way more dangerous.'”
Morales then accused Makhachev of preferring to fight Prates because it would be an easier matchup. He suggested the champion is avoiding him in favor of the Brazilian contender.
Morales Welcomes Fight With Carlos Prates
The Ecuadorian fighter directly challenged Prates to a fight, calling it a “Deadpool vs. Spider-Man” matchup. Prates has reportedly claimed the UFC never offered him the Morales fight and said he would knock out Morales in the first round.
“Prates, you said the UFC never offered you the fight with me. You said you will knock me out in the first round. Perfect, bro, let’s do it,” Morales stated. “You and me, Deadpool vs. Spider-Man. You want the belt? I want the belt. Let’s find out who’s next.”
Morales expressed his desire to fight the best competition available. “I want the hard fight. I want the great fighters. I want the fights that people are gonna remember,” he said.
The welterweight contender also addressed other fighters in the division. He called Shavkat Rakhmonov the “final boss” of the welterweight division and indicated he wants to face the Kazakh fighter in 2027.
Rakhmonov has been sidelined with a knee injury since December 2024. He is expected to return to competition next year.
Ian Garry Responds to Morales Callout
Morales ended his message with a dismissive comment about Ian Garry, saying “F*** Ian Garry.” Garry has been recently named as a title challenger in the division.
Garry quickly fired back at Morales on social media. The Irish fighter claimed he has already agreed to headline a fight against Morales and that a date has been locked in.
“UFC sent the date. I DM’d you myself. You make it all public but behind the scenes I’m getting a different message,” Garry wrote. He also questioned how long it has been since Morales last competed.
Morales last fought Sean Brady at UFC 322. His fighting style has earned him a strong following among UFC fans.
The welterweight division currently features several undefeated or highly-ranked fighters competing for position. Morales, Rakhmonov, Prates and Garry are all considered top contenders in the division.
Makhachev has expressed readiness to fight before Ramadan. No official announcement has been made yet about who will receive the next title shot at welterweight.
Morales previously revealed he plans to fight once more before challenging for his first UFC title. He indicated his 2027 plans depend on whether Makhachev chooses to fight Prates or accepts his challenge instead.
