The UFC confirmed on Saturday that Joshua Van will defend his flyweight title against Manel Kape and that Carlos Prates will fight Michael Morales for an interim welterweight belt at UFC 336, the promotion's return to Toronto's Scotiabank Arena. UFC returns to Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on January 30, 2027, and the two title fights were announced during Saturday's broadcast.
A New Main Event After Makhachev Steps Aside
For weeks, rumours had circulated that undisputed welterweight champion Islam Makhachev would defend his belt against Prates in Toronto. Those plans fell apart when Makhachev recently informed the promotion that he would not be able to make the January date, pushing the UFC toward an interim-title solution instead.
UFC CEO Dana White did not offer a detailed explanation for the champion's absence, saying only that the initial reports were «interesting» when asked about it. A broadcast commentator noted that the promotion had initially worked with Makhachev to schedule a title defence for January before those talks broke down.
Joshua Van Looks to Extend His Flyweight Reign
Van, 24, will put his undisputed flyweight title on the line for a third time since winning it, having already turned back Tatsuro Taira and, most recently in September, former champion Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331. The Myanmar-born champion has built his reputation on consistently beating the division's best, and Toronto gives him a chance to do it again on home soil for Canadian fans who have watched the NHL and other leagues dominate the city's sports calendar in recent years.
Kape's Knockout Streak
Standing in his way is Kape, who arrives off a stoppage win over Kyoji Horiguchi and has strung together four straight victories by knockout, collecting Performance of the Night bonuses in his last three outings. The Portugal-based «Starboy» has spent more than a year arguing he deserved a title shot, and he finally gets his chance in Canada.
Prates and Morales Fight for Interim Gold
With the champion out of the picture, matchmakers turned to Prates and Morales to headline the card for the interim welterweight championship. Prates, 33, has blasted through two former champions, Leon Edwards and Jack Della Maddalena, with his most recent win coming in May in Perth, Australia. Morales, 27, enters unbeaten at 19-0 overall and 7-0 inside the Octagon, though he has not competed since defeating Sean Brady in November 2025.
Two Contrasting Records
The gap between the two men's styles has fuelled anticipation for months, as Prates reportedly said he would only fight Morales after beating the champion himself — a scenario the promotion has now reshaped into an interim-title bout instead. Both men have collected Performance of the Night bonuses in their last three fights, setting up a clash between two of the division's most explosive finishers.
Toronto's Long-Awaited Return
UFC 336 will mark the promotion's eighth event in Toronto and its first in the city since UFC 297 in January 2024, when Dricus Du Plessis beat Sean Strickland for the middleweight title at the same arena. Scotiabank Arena, which also serves as home to the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Raptors, previously hosted the venue under the Air Canada Centre name for most of the promotion's earlier visits to the city.
How to Watch in Canada
The event also represents a milestone for Canadian viewers: UFC 336 will be the first numbered UFC event whose main card streams on Paramount+ in Canada, ending the traditional pay-per-view model for the promotion's biggest fights north of the border. Tickets for the event are scheduled to go on sale to the general public on November 20 through Ticketmaster, following earlier presale windows.
What Comes Next
With both title fights now official, attention turns to the undercard, which the promotion is expected to fill out in the coming weeks. Fans following the broader UFC schedule can also keep tabs on other combat-sports storylines, including whichever path Makhachev eventually takes to his next welterweight defence once his own timeline clears up.