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Home › MMA News › Michael Morales Hints at Upcoming Fight, But It Won’t Be Against Carlos Prates or Ian Machado Garry
The undefeated Michael Morales, who was previously expected to face Ian Machado Garry, has now confirmed a fight scheduled for January 2027, as shared by the 27-year-old fighter.
Morales has announced that his forthcoming fight will not involve Garry. The Ecuadorian athlete stated that top UFC welterweight contenders Ian Machado Garry and Carlos Prates are reluctant to take the fight with him. Instead, Morales will face a “very tough opponent.”
He anticipates stepping into the octagon either in December of this year or January 2027, viewing this as his “final fight before a title shot.” In an interview with Juan Francisco Rueda, Morales explained:
“We were trying to set a fight for December, but it looks more like January now. It will be against a very tough opponent. It’s not Prates or Ian Garry; neither of them wants to fight me. We agreed on the January fight, which will be my last before a championship bout. We need to get the win, then we aim for the title in June, God willing.”
Below are Morales’ comments shared on social media:
🚨 Michael Morales reveals he has a fight set for January, and it’s not against Carlos Prates or Ian Garry 👀
“We were pushing to see if we could fight in December, but it looks like the fight will be in January instead. Against a very tough opponent. It’s neither Prates nor Ian…”
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 3, 2026
Morales last fought at UFC 322, dominating Sean Brady with a first-round knockout. Earlier this year, he was the backup for the UFC 330 welterweight title fight between Islam Makhachev and Ian Machado Garry.
Image caption: Michael Morales at the UFC 330 official weigh-in in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 13, 2026. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Currently, reigning 170-pound champion Islam Makhachev is expected to defend his belt against Carlos Prates sometime before Ramadan 2027. If Morales, who has now scored three consecutive first-round knockouts, secures another decisive victory, he could well position himself as the leading contender for the next welterweight title shot once the potential Makhachev vs. Prates fight concludes and the division reshuffles.
Image caption: Islam Makhachev and Michael Morales exchange challenges via social media. [Images courtesy of @miichaelufc on Instagram]
Fan Take:
This update is crucial for MMA enthusiasts because it highlights the shifting dynamics in the UFC welterweight division and Morales’ rising star power. His determination and impressive knockout streak make him a compelling challenger who could shake up the rankings and create exciting matchups leading to a title fight.
Source: www.lowkickmma.com
