Carlos Prates was already “studying and training” to challenge Islam Makhachev for the UFC welterweight title on Jan. 30, when the UFC called to inform there was a change of plans that left him “pissed off.”
Now set to face off with undefeated Michael Morales for the interim belt in the co-main event of the same card, under flyweight champion Joshua Van vs. Manel Kape as new UFC 336 headliner, Prates went ballistic at the 170-pound champion for changing his mind.
“He comes out saying he wants to be an active champion, this and that,” Prates told Laerte Viana. “Hunter [Campbell] even said that date was reserved for him. Then he just came out and said he didn’t want it. He chickened out.”
“I was pretty pissed off, but what can you do?” he continued. “The situation I’m in now is that I have to beat Morales and win the interim belt. I’m going to focus on him, then I’m going to come back and beat Makhachev twice as hard just to teach him a lesson and make him stop being such a p*ssy.”
Prates earned a shot at the belt after going 7-1 in the UFC, all victories by bonus-winning knockout, and now needs to clinch an interim belt to then get the chance to share the cage with an all-time great in Makhachev.
Morales also won seven times under the UFC banner for a perfect 19-0 record in the sport.
“I’ve been in this game for 17 years, and when it finally came time for me to fulfill my dream of becoming a champion, this dude pulls some bullsh*t like that,” Prates said. “I was really pissed off. Now Morales is going to pay the price [laughs], and then I’m going to get him, because he acted like a f*cking a**hole with this b*tch-ass attitude.”
