Colby Covington Defends Makhachev, Questions UFC Interim Title

Colby Covington has defended Islam Makhachev’s decision to delay his next UFC appearance until after Ramadan while questioning whether Carlos Prates and Michael Morales have earned the opportunity to compete for an interim welterweight championship. The former UFC interim champion believes Makhachev should not face criticism for turning down the proposed January return date, particularly given his recent title defence.

The UFC has booked Prates against Morales for the interim welterweight title at UFC 336 on January 30, 2027, after Makhachev declined the proposed January date. The undisputed champion has indicated that he would prefer to return after Ramadan, with his next appearance potentially being one of the final fights of his career.

Covington believes the promotion should give Makhachev enough time to prepare for his return rather than immediately moving forward with an interim championship fight. He also questioned the experience and quality of opposition faced by the two contenders selected for the title opportunity.

Colby Covington backs Islam Makhachev over January UFC return

Speaking in a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Covington expressed surprise at the criticism directed towards Makhachev. He pointed out that the Russian had competed relatively recently and argued that a short delay in his return should not be treated as a major issue.

Covington also highlighted Ramadan as an important consideration in Makhachev’s schedule. He believes the champion should be allowed to return after the religious observance rather than being pressured to accept a January fight date that does not suit him.

“I was surprised. I thought he just fought two or three months ago. I thought he just had a title defense. Give him a little time to get through Ramadan. The January date for him didn’t work out. Give him some time to fight after Ramadan. Those guys aren’t worthy to be fighting for an interim title.”

Covington’s comments make his position clear: he believes Makhachev has earned the opportunity to decide when he wants to compete again. Rather than viewing the January scheduling decision as a problem, Covington sees the champion’s recent activity as a reason to allow him additional preparation time.

The situation has also created debate about the UFC’s decision to introduce an interim championship. With the undisputed titleholder expected to return after Ramadan, the promotion has chosen to move forward with a fight between two welterweight contenders instead of waiting for his comeback.

Covington questions Michael Morales’ strength of schedule

Covington was particularly critical of Michael Morales’ strength of schedule, arguing that the Ecuadorian fighter has not yet faced the level of opposition required to justify an interim title opportunity.

Although he acknowledged Morales’ impressive winning streak and successful performances, Covington believes the contender has not been tested against an established former champion or a recognised title challenger. He also questioned whether either Morales or Prates had achieved enough to compete for an interim championship.

“What have those guys done? Michael Morales has fought nobody. He’s been tested by nobody. He’s had an impressive win streak and some nice showcasing wins, but he hasn’t had a premier marquee matchup, a main event shot with an ex-champ or a title challenger. So I don’t think that deserves to be an interim title, but that’s why the UFC and Hunter Campbell are so great at what they do, and they see something and they know something. That’ll be an all-striking battle, and I think someone will get knocked out for sure.”

Covington’s assessment focuses on the level of competition rather than Morales’ undefeated run and recent results. In his view, winning several fights is not necessarily enough to establish a fighter as deserving of an interim title opportunity without a major victory against an established name.

His criticism also extends to the decision to match Morales with Prates for the interim belt. However, Covington acknowledged that UFC officials, including Hunter Campbell, may see potential in the matchup that explains their decision.

Despite questioning the title booking, Covington expects the contest to produce an entertaining striking battle. He predicted that one of the fighters would suffer a knockout, suggesting that the matchup could deliver an exciting finish even if he disagrees with the championship implications.

UFC books Carlos Prates vs Michael Morales for interim welterweight title

The UFC has scheduled Carlos Prates against Michael Morales for the interim welterweight championship at UFC 336 on January 30, 2027. The matchup follows Makhachev’s decision not to accept the proposed January return date.

The booking gives both contenders an opportunity to compete for championship gold while the undisputed titleholder waits for a more suitable return window after Ramadan.

For Morales, the fight represents an opportunity to strengthen his position among the division’s leading contenders. A victory would provide him with an interim championship and a significant step towards a potential undisputed title fight.

Prates also enters the matchup with an opportunity to claim a major UFC achievement. The contest will determine which fighter leaves UFC 336 holding the interim welterweight championship.

However, the booking has attracted criticism from Covington, who believes the UFC should consider the credentials of the contenders more carefully before awarding an interim title opportunity. His comments have added another dimension to the debate surrounding Makhachev’s schedule and the future of the welterweight division.

Joshua Van also defends Islam Makhachev amid UFC criticism

Covington is not the only UFC fighter to defend Makhachev following the decision to schedule an interim welterweight title fight. Flyweight champion Joshua Van has also questioned the criticism directed towards the Russian champion.

Van is preparing for his own title defence against Manel Kape at UFC 336. Speaking about the reaction to Makhachev’s scheduling decision, he highlighted how quickly public opinion appeared to change following the champion’s previous victory over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330.

Van pointed out that Makhachev had received widespread praise after that performance, with many fans describing him as one of the greatest fighters in the sport. He questioned why the reaction had become more negative after the champion indicated that he wanted to return following Ramadan.

“The guy has done everything he needs in the sport. What’s even the point of fighting anymore, but the way people go from calling him the goat after beating Ian Garry to this is something else, Man.”

Van’s comments support the argument that Makhachev has already achieved enough in his career to deserve some flexibility regarding his next appearance. He also highlighted the contrast between the praise the champion received after UFC 330 and the criticism surrounding his decision to skip the January date.

His defence adds another voice to the discussion, particularly as the UFC prepares for a major event featuring both the interim welterweight championship fight and Van’s flyweight title defence against Kape.

What Covington’s comments mean for the UFC welterweight division

The decision to book Prates against Morales has created an important situation for the UFC welterweight division. While Makhachev remains the undisputed champion, the interim title fight will give another contender the opportunity to claim championship status during his absence.

Covington’s criticism raises questions about the criteria used to select fighters for interim championship opportunities. His argument is that contenders should establish themselves through victories over recognised opposition before receiving a chance to compete for a title.

On the other hand, the UFC’s decision indicates that the promotion sees value in the Prates-Morales matchup. The contest will provide both fighters with a high-profile opportunity to demonstrate their abilities on a major event.

Makhachev’s eventual return will also be an important part of the division’s future. With the champion indicating a preference to fight after Ramadan, the outcome of the interim title bout could help shape the next stage of the welterweight championship picture.

UFC 336: Attention turns to Prates vs Morales and Makhachev’s return

UFC 336 on January 30, 2027, will feature the interim welterweight championship contest between Carlos Prates and Michael Morales, alongside Joshua Van’s flyweight title defence against Manel Kape.

For Covington, the main issue is whether Prates and Morales have done enough to deserve the interim championship opportunity. He has backed Makhachev’s decision to wait until after Ramadan and questioned the experience of the contenders, particularly Morales.

Van has also defended the undisputed champion, arguing that Makhachev’s achievements should be recognised despite the criticism surrounding his return schedule.

The discussion now centres on two major questions: whether Prates or Morales can establish himself as the interim welterweight champion, and when Makhachev will make his next appearance. Their answers could have a significant impact on the UFC’s welterweight title picture in 2027.