UFC 336 in Toronto to feature interim welterweight and flyweight title fights

UFC 336 will take place on January 30, 2027, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, marking the promotion's first numbered event of the year and its return to the city after two years. The card will be headlined by two title fights after welterweight champion Islam Makhachev withdrew from his scheduled defense.

In the main event, flyweight champion Joshua Van, 25, will defend his undisputed title against Manel Kape. Van captured the belt from Alexandre Pantoja in December 2025 and has since successfully defended it twice, including a September 2026 rematch victory over Pantoja at UFC 331. He is on pace to become only the second UFC champion to record four successful title defenses within a single calendar year. Kape, a former RIZIN champion, enters as a 23-7 fighter with four consecutive UFC victories, all by knockout, including wins over Brandon Royval and Kyoji Horiguchi.

The co-main event will pit Carlos Prates, 33, against Michael Morales, 27, for the interim welterweight championship. Prates has won seven consecutive UFC bouts, all by finish, after rebounding from an April 2025 loss to Ian Machado Garry. His recent victories include knockouts of two former welterweight champions, Leon Edwards and Jack Della Maddalena. Morales remains undefeated at 19-0 with seven straight UFC wins, including three consecutive first-round knockouts of Neil Magny, Gilbert Burns, and Sean Brady. The winner will earn the right to challenge Makhachev for the undisputed welterweight title.

Makhachev, who last defended his welterweight title against Ian Garry at UFC 330 in August 2026, informed the UFC earlier in the week he would not be ready to compete in January as originally planned. UFC commentator Jon Anik stated on the UFC 333 broadcast that the promotion held the January date for Makhachev but he declined. UFC CEO Dana White said Makhachev provided no specific reason for the withdrawal. Anik noted that Makhachev's next title defense is now expected to occur between May and July 2027, with the start of Ramadan in February cited as a scheduling consideration. The UFC subsequently introduced an interim title to provide championship-level competition for the division.