Islam Makhachev opted not to fight Carlos Prates at UFC 336, and as a result, the promotion is introducing an interim title as the Brazilian now battles Michael Morales instead in January.
While Makhachev ultimately turned down a fight, he just defended his belt in August with a unanimous decision win over Ian Machado Garry, and he’s already stated that he’ll gladly face the winner of Prates vs. Morales after Ramadan concludes. But UFC CEO Dana White insisted that the division had to move forward with Makhachev absent, which is why an interim title is being introduced.
UFC legend Matt Brown understands the frustration but also defends Makhachev’s right to delay his return no matter how much it makes his bosses angry.
“He is in position being that he’s done such great things, I feel like he’s earned that right,” Brown said on the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer. “I think he’s earned that right — I wouldn’t call it picking and choosing — if he was like ‘I don’t want to fight anybody’ for this amount of time. Again, this is where I’ve said this a thousand times, I wish there was some sort of standard. The UFC needs to make a standard — if you don’t defend for this long, we make an interim title. This happens in boxing all the time. This guy needs to this, I’m going to fight this guy, I want to fight this guy. This is just standard combat sports stuff.
“When you get to that level, you get a little bit more picky and choosy, as you should. I’m not going to hate on Islam being picky and choosy about this fight.”
As much as the UFC may have wanted Makhachev to return in January, he’s only been out of action for two months, and UFC 336 is still barely five months removed from his last title defense.
That’s why Brown takes real issue with the UFC putting an interim title up for grabs when Makhachev is still the undisputed champion.
“It was surprising to me that Islam did that. I just thought he would take the fight and go,” Brown said. “I didn’t really think he would get into the politics of who needs to beat who but come on an interim title? He just fought what two months ago? Two months ago. We don’t need to do this. The interim title’s not going to mean anything.
“It’s an amazing fight Morales vs. Prates, but you’re knocking off a contender. I’d rather see Islam fight both of them. Maybe that’s not what Islam wants to do. I think he’s earned his keep there, and if that’s what he wants to do, I think you say OK. You’ve got to fight somebody. Who do you want to fight? The last thing I like out of this is a f*cking interim title.”
The UFC has often introduced interim titles to help boost the profile of a card where championship fights just draw more attention.
But Brown can’t help but wonder if this particular interim title has more to do with punishing Makhachev than needing the welterweight division to move forward while he’s out of action.
“Is that the UFC trying to punch Islam in the gut?” Brown said. “That’s what it feels like here. That’s what I feel is our distaste for this particular situation. We can talk all day how we don’t like interim titles but particularly when a guy’s just like ‘I don’t to fight this guy at this time.’
“I don’t know what the behind the scenes conversation was, but if he’s clear to them ‘I’m going to fight in March, April, June, July’ whatever it is, then that’s totally fair. He’s earned that right to pick when he fights.”