Carlos Prates reacts to Islam Makhachev's reported UFC 336 withdrawal with iconic Nate Diaz moment - Bloody Elbow

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 15: (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC)Damon Martin is a veteran journalist and insider covering combat sports since 2003. Carlos Prates is battling Michael Morales for an interim welterweight title at UFC 336, but why exactly is a new championship being introduced with Islam Makhachev still holding onto his belt? Original plans for UFC 336 had Makhachev defending his title in the main event against Prates but suddenly the reigning welterweight champion became unavailable and plans changed for the organization. On Saturday at UFC 333, UFC CEO Dana White addressed the situation and why the promotion decided to introduce a new belt rather than just declare Prates vs. Morales as a No. 1 contender’s fight. “On average, Islam fights like one time a year,” White said at the post-fight press conference. “He was slated for January and then said ‘I don’t want to fight until after Ramadan.’“You can’t hold up divisions like this. You’ve got to keep moving and this fight makes sense.”Makhachev last fought in August where he scored a unanimous decision victory over Ian Machado Garry in his latest title defese.

Conor McGregor has to return to the UFC to regulate his financial problems, claims Islam Makhachev.

The Toronto Raptors officially have their roster ready for the regular season, with more changes likely to come. The team announced Saturday morning that it has waived five players: guards Nimari Burnett, Jalen Celestine, and Tyreke Key, forward Tyson Degenhart and centre Jamarion Sharp. The roster now stands at 14 players, which is one that is able to be carried into the season. Burnett and Key especially stood out in preseason for stretches, but both are now likely destined for the Raptors 905. Here’s what I wrote about Burnett from Toronto’s final preseason game against the Detroit Pistons:Burnett plays like he knows what’s happening on the court. It’s rare for non-NBA players to be so heady, but Burnett just knows where to be. He was one of Toronto’s toothiest defenders against Detroit, and he was able to jump passing lanes and even protect the rim as a helper, high-pointing a layup attempt for a proper NBA-caliber guard in Daniss Jenkins. He battled on the glass and won some contested ones against an extremely physical and athletic Pistons squad. He even took a charge. Burnett is long and smart, and that’s a functional combination. And offensively, Burnett was fantastic.

The Raptors have completed a series of roster moves, announcing today that they’ve converted big man Nate Bittle from his Exhibit 10 deal to a two-way contract while waiving their other five camp invitees, Tyreke Key, Nimari Burnett, Tyson Degenhart, Jamarion Sharp, and Jalen Celestine, per Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca (Twitter link). Bittle, a seven-foot center who spent five years at Oregon, started nearly every game over his final four college seasons after coming off the bench for spot minutes as a freshman. He averaged 16.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game in 2025/26 and was named to the Big Ten’s All-Defensive team in ’24/25.