Islam Makhachev vs. Carlos Prates Scrapped as UFC 336 Headliner

If you were booking flights to Toronto to watch Islam Makhachev defend his belt at UFC 336, it might be time to check the airline's refund policy.

Ariel Helwani and Ag. Fight report that the targeted clash between Makhachev and Carlos Prates is officially dead in the water. The promotion originally hoped to anchor the Canadian card with the matchup, but the UFC is now looking elsewhere.

"Ariel Helwani reported that the date doesn't work for Makhachev anymore, though it is unclear why."

The date simply no longer works for Makhachev, though the exact reason remains a mystery. In the modern MMA ecosystem, an unexplained absence usually means we are about to endure a month of unhinged internet conspiracy theories before finding out he just had a minor scheduling conflict.

Prates was staring down the barrel of a massive opportunity against the pound-for-pound king. The January timeline made perfect sense on paper, giving Makhachev a chance to clear out a dangerous contender before the annual Ramadan break.

Instead, the UFC is left staring at a massive, pay-per-view-sized hole at the top of the marquee.

This completely scrambles the betting board. Sportsbooks were already bracing to hang lines for a Makhachev title defense, and now the entire market for UFC 336 is in a holding pattern until the matchmakers pull a new main event out of a hat.

The clock is officially ticking for Toronto. The UFC now has to scramble to find a replacement headliner that actually moves the needle, while the rest of the division waits to see when Makhachev will actually be ready to make the walk.