Della Maddalena On Prates-Morales At UFC 336

Jack Della Maddalena praised the upcoming interim welterweight title bout between Carlos Prates and Michael Morales at UFC 336, calling it good for a division stuck waiting on champion Islam Makhachev.

The former 170-pound champion told Bedtime MMA that Prates versus Morales is an incredible fight, per MMA Mania. "I think it's good for the division," Della Maddalena said. "It clears up the division, it shows who the No. 1 contender is, and it's good timing."

Della Maddalena expects Makhachev to sit until June 2027, creating a bottleneck at welterweight that the UFC is trying to loosen by pitting Prates against Morales on January 30 in Toronto. The Australian said he leans toward Prates having more tools to win but noted that Morales brings different size and power to the cage.

Prates stopped Della Maddalena in Perth last May and currently sits as the moneyline betting favorite, though the line is tight. The winner gets first crack at Makhachev when the champion returns mid-year.

UFC 336 is headlined by Joshua Van defending the flyweight strap against Manel Kape at Scotiabank Arena.