Undefeated Morales plans January UFC return

Undefeated welterweight contender Michael Morales says he has agreed to fight a yet-to-be-named “very tough opponent” in January 2027, describing the bout as his final step before a potential UFC title shot. He says neither Ian Machado Garry nor Carlos Prates will be his opponent, though the fighters’ accounts of why a Morales-Garry matchup fell through differ. Morales hopes to earn a title fight in June with a win; Carlos Prates is widely viewed as the leading candidate to face champion Islam Makhachev next. In a separate callout, Morales also named Shavkat Rakhmonov as a possible opponent if his title plans do not materialize.