Dana White Clarifies Implementation of Interim Welterweight Title at UFC 336

UFC CEO Dana White has addressed the decision to introduce an interim welterweight championship for the upcoming UFC 336 event. The bout, which features Carlos Prates taking on Michael Morales, was originally slated to be a title defense for reigning welterweight champion Islam Makhachev. However, with Makhachev recently becoming unavailable for the contest, the promotion opted to elevate the stakes of the replacement matchup. While Makhachev remains the undisputed champion, the move ensures that the welterweight division maintains a championship-level focal point during his period of unavailability. The interim title serves to provide competitive clarity in the division while the promotion awaits the return of the titleholder. This decision follows the abrupt shift in the UFC 336 main event plans, which saw the original championship bout scrapped due to the champion's unforeseen withdrawal. From a fantasy perspective, the introduction of an interim belt adds significant points potential for the matchup, as both Prates and Morales now have a championship-caliber designation attached to their performance expectations for the card.

Source: MMA Fighting.