Michael Morales is encouraging Carlos Prates to fully focus on their UFC 336 interim title fight.
With Islam Makhachev unavailable to compete on the Jan. 30 card in Toronto, the promotion opted to proceed with an interim bout between Morales (19-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) and Prates (24-7 MMA, 7-1 UFC).
There's been several months of speculation about a potential matchup between the two high-ranked knockout artists, and although Prates was expecting to fight Makhachev (29-1 MMA, 18-1 UFC), this is the reality of what played out, and Morales will be standing on the other side of the octagon.
As Prates rages at Makhachev on social media, Morales urged his Brazilian foe to lock in on the task at hand and cut out all his vices such as cigarettes if he wants any
chance for the win at UFC 336.
UFC CEO Dana White said post-fight at Saturday's UFC 333 that Morales vs. Prates was booked after Makhachev changed his mind about competing in January. He scolded the champ for his inactivity and said the company was left with no choice but to allow the division to move forward.
"On average, Islam fights like once a year," White said during the post-fight news conference. "He was slated for January and then said, 'I don't want to fight until after Ramadan,' and you can't hold up divisions like this. You've got to keep moving, and this fight makes sense. No reason (to not have it)."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Michael Morales warns Carlos Prates before UFC 336: 'Shut your mouth'
