Michael Morales Calls Out the Welterweight Division While Garry Fires Back

Michael Morales is tired of waiting, and he wants the whole welterweight division to know it. The undefeated Ecuadorian, 7-0 in the UFC and riding three consecutive first-round knockouts over Sean Brady, Gilbert Burns and Neil Magny, dropped a video on Sunday running through every name standing between him and the 170-pound belt. Champion Islam Makhachev topped the list.

The timing matters. Morales, 27, hasn't fought once in 2026, and with upcoming cards filling up he may not step back inside the octagon until 2027. That inactivity is the problem. While he's been idle, Carlos Prates (24-7, 19 KO) stormed into the #2 slot with a third-round elbow finish of former champ Jack Della Maddalena this past May, and he now looks like the frontrunner for the next title shot.

Morales Draws His Line

In the video, Morales reminded Makhachev that he's been asking for the fight since the champion arrived in the division and took the belt. He acknowledged Makhachev once called him more dangerous and said he needed one more win, then suggested letting Prates and Morales sort it out first. Fine, Morales said, but after that there can be no more excuses.

He didn't spare Prates either. Morales referenced Prates' claim that the UFC never offered the matchup and his vow to knock Morales out in the opening round. Morales framed it as Deadpool vs. Spider-Man, both men chasing the same strap, and said he wants the hard fights people remember, not easy outs. He also name-checked Shavkat Rakhmonov, sidelined since December 2024 with injuries, calling him the division's final boss.

Garry Isn't Having It

Then came the shortest message of all. Morales looked into the camera and told Ian Machado Garry, bluntly, to get lost, before the video cut. Garry answered Monday, posting old footage alongside a caption insisting he's already said yes, that the date is locked, that the UFC sent it and he DM'd Morales himself. His pointed kicker: how long has it been since Morales actually fought?

It's a fair jab. Garry dropped a unanimous decision to Makhachev at UFC 330 in August and has pledged to fight his way back to another title shot. Morales, by contrast, served as the backup for that same bout and made weight, but a successful scale appearance isn't a win. Right now he has the resume and the knockout highlight reel; what he doesn't have is a confirmed date. Until that changes, the division's momentum belongs to the men who are busy, and Morales knows it.