Islam Makhachev Bails on UFC 336 and Leaves Toronto Holding the Bag

Islam Makhachev is officially off the UFC 336 card in Toronto, which means the MMA gods have once again demanded a blood sacrifice just when a lineup was starting to look fun.

The rumored main event of Makhachev defending his throne against Carlos Prates is dead. Now, the UFC has to scramble to find a replacement that does not make Canadian fans feel like they paid premium pay-per-view prices for a regional showcase.

"Adam Martin suggested potential replacements like Carlos Prates vs. Michael Morales or Sean Strickland vs. Nassourdine Imavov."

Prates losing his title shot is a tragedy for anyone who enjoys pure violence. The guy has been on an absolute video-game run, setting a UFC record with seven knockouts and 14 knockdowns in his first eight fights. He has been handing out concussions and collecting performance bonuses faster than the average fighter signs a bout agreement.

Makhachev, meanwhile, has a history of these frustrating delays, with recent reports swirling about a broken nose and general injury chaos. When he fights, he is untouchable, but getting him to the cage is starting to feel like trying to coordinate a group dinner in your thirties.

The sportsbooks are going to have a field day adjusting to whatever the UFC throws at the wall next. Reporter Adam Martin floated a few backup plans, including an interim title fight between Prates and Michael Morales. If you are holding a ticket for UFC 336, you are suddenly sweating out a mystery box.

There is also chatter about Sean Strickland returning to Canada to fight Nassourdine Imavov, or Natalia Silva taking on Jasmine Jasudavicius. Strickland stepping in to save a card is the most predictable UFC pivot of all time, but it completely changes the temperature and the betting angles of the event.

For now, the division is stuck in the mud. Prates will have to keep his devastating knee strikes on ice, and Toronto fans will spend the next few weeks refreshing their feeds to see if they are getting a blockbuster or a patchwork main event.