UFC 330 is in the books, and the topic on everyone’s mind is Islam Makhachev’s next fight possibilities.
The main event saw Makhachev (29-1) defeat the #1 welterweight, Ian Machado Garry (17-2), by unanimous decision to retain the championship at 170 lbs. This win put Makhachev in a class of his own, as he is now the record holder for the longest winning streak in UFC history.
With the fallout of the event still fresh, here are two intriguing fights to make at welterweight in the near future.
After his victory against Garry, Makhachev mentioned that he wanted to fight before Ramadan, sometime around the end of the year or January of next year. This would be an ideal time to fight the #2 welterweight, Carlos Prates.
Prates (24-7) is currently on a three-fight winning streak, during which he has knocked out all of his opponents. In fact, throughout his nine-fight career in the UFC, all of his wins have ended by KO or TKO. Throughout his career, he holds a 91.7% finish rate with 19 KOs and 3 submissions.
Along with his winning streak and #2 ranking, Prates also holds victories over two former champions. His last two fights saw him finish Jack Della Maddalena and Leon Edwards. With this finishing ability, he could be a more dangerous opponent for the current champion.
In a potential bout, Makhachev would have the advantage of determining where the fight goes. He controlled Garry for over 12 minutes and landed 7 takedowns. In his UFC career, Makhachev has landed 48 takedowns with a control time of over an hour and 50 minutes.
In the sole loss of his career, Prates was taken down by Garry four times. If he does fight Makhachev, his takedown defense will be tested against one of the best wrestlers in UFC history.
Both Makhachev and Prates have expressed interest in fighting each other. During his post-fight interview, Makhachev indicated that he wanted to defend his championship against Prates next because he was the most worthy opponent.
“Shavkat is not fighting. Prates still fighting, still active,” said Makhachev. “Morales also good, but I don’t remember last time he fight. If you ask me who is more deserving, I think Carlos Prates”.
Prates, who was at UFC 330, later responded to Makhachev by saying he would knock him out and become the first Brazilian welterweight champion.
With these two publicly advocating for the fight, Dana White and the UFC should make it happen. Makhachev vs. Prates is one of the biggest fights to make at welterweight and could serve as a headliner for a numbered event later this year or next year.
Following his loss to Makhachev, Garry was still adamant that he would one day become a UFC Champion. For him to quickly get back into title contention at welterweight, he should fight the #3 fighter in the division, Michael Morales.
Morales (19-0) is likely to miss out on the Makhachev sweepstakes, as he hasn’t been active recently, with his last fight being in November of 2025. He has, however, been establishing himself in the welterweight division, as he is on a seven-fight winning streak. He has also been making quick work of his last three opponents, defeating all three in the first round by KO/TKO.
Additionally, Morales was the backup fighter for Makhachev vs. Garry but didn’t step in as they were both healthy.
A fight between Morales and Garry would test both of their striking abilities. Morales lands 5.68 significant strikes a minute and holds a finish rate of 79%. While Garry only has a finish rate of 47%, he is the more defensive fighter, as he defends 53% of significant strikes thrown at him.
Along with their striking ability, they have size and reach that are uncommon for welterweights. Garry has a 74-inch reach, while Morales has a 79-inch reach.
There also seems to be bad blood between Morales and Garry. Before UFC 330, Morales was recorded throwing obscenities towards Garry and expressing his dislike for him.
After his fight at UFC 330, Garry approached Morales and explained that he should allow his fighting to do the talking.
With both of these top welterweights in need of a big win before getting championship opportunities, a matchup between them should be a no-brainer. Garry vs. Morales could potentially serve as a #1 contender’s bout to establish that next challenger for the throne at 170 lbs.
The top of the welterweight weight class is one of the most competitive divisions in the UFC. It holds many unique fighters who create compelling matchups to keep the fans engaged with the division.
If Makhachev wants a quick turnaround, a fight between him and Prates would be an interesting bout. Prates has a finishing ability that could make him a lethal opponent for the pound-for-pound top fighter in the UFC. Garry and Morales, on the other hand, could put two distinct strikers toe-to-toe to determine the next clear-cut contender.
The UFC has already announced that Gabriel Bonfim and Sean Brady will headline UFC Vegas 124 on November 7th. Regardless of the outcome, it would surely affect the future of the welterweight division and introduce a new top contender.
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