The stakes are officially set for one of the most anticipated welterweight clashes of the new year, and the camp behind Carlos Prates is already brimming with supreme confidence. According to head coach Cristian Nogueira, "The Nightmare" is not only fully prepared to pivot following a dramatic last-minute shift in his promotional trajectory, but he is also expected to make relatively quick work of his next high-profile opponent inside the world-famous Octagon.
Prates, holding a formidable 24-7 professional mixed martial arts record, is currently scheduled to stand across the cage from the undefeated and highly dangerous Michael Morales (19-0). The high-stakes showdown carries championship implications, as the two elite 170-pound contenders are booked to collide for the Ultimate Fighting Championship interim welterweight title. The championship clash serves as a marquee attraction at UFC 336, which is slated to take place on January 30 at the prominent Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
While the bout promises to deliver fireworks between two of the division’s most dynamic strikers, Prates’ longtime mentor believes the contest will not see the championship rounds. Nogueira expects a definitive and emphatic stoppage well before the championship frame, pointing to specific tactical adjustments and the inherent fighting style of his pupil’s opponent as the primary catalysts for a relatively rapid finish.
Cristian Nogueira Explains Carlos Prates’ UFC 336 Training Changes and Predicts a Second-Round Finish Against Michael Morales
The road to UFC 336 has not been entirely straightforward for the Brazilian contender and his coaching staff. Speaking in an exclusive, in-depth interview with Sherdog, head coach Cristian Nogueira revealed that the initial blueprint mapped out by Vale Top Team did not feature Morales at all. Instead, the camp was operating under the firm assumption that Prates would receive the next opportunity to challenge reigning divisional elite Islam Makhachev.
"It came as a surprise to us because we thought we would fight Makhachev first and then Morales," Nogueira admitted during the interview. "We had already been planning the training camp to face Islam on January 30, but no problem. The important thing is that this fight will be for the belt."
The revelation highlights the chaotic and constantly shifting nature of matchmaking at the highest level of mixed martial arts. Because Prates and his team had originally begun preparations specifically tailored toward neutralizing Makhachev’s world-class, wrestling-heavy style and chain-wrestling pressure, the sudden change in opponent necessitated an immediate and complete strategic overhaul. To address the unique athletic profile and striking-heavy attacks of the undefeated Ecuadorian, Prates quickly adjusted his camp and began working intensely with specialized boxing coach Arthur Cesar, widely known throughout the MMA community as Ban Ban.
"The main change will be in movement," Nogueira explained, detailing the tactical pivot required for the Scotiabank Arena clash. "We had been doing a lot of work on defending takedowns and getting back to our feet so we could hurt him immediately afterward. Against Morales, the focus shifts more toward the footwork developed by Ban Ban, our boxing coach."
The transition from a grappling-centric defensive paradigm to a fluid, footwork-heavy striking defense illustrates the adaptability required to excel in the upper echelons of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Rather than dwelling on the sudden alteration of their championship roadmap, Vale Top Team leaned into the expertise of their extended professional network.
Nogueira, who serves as the head of Vale Top Team based in Taubate, Brazil, shares a profound personal and professional bond with Prates that extends far beyond the traditional fighter-coach relationship. Having trained the explosive striker since he was just 11 years old, Nogueira remains Prates’ primary day-to-day coach and someone the fighter regards as a second father.
Because of this deeply rooted history, Nogueira remains completely unfazed by external narratives or the fact that casual observers and modern media outlets frequently associate Prates’ recent surge in the UFC with the renowned gym Fighting Nerds rather than his foundational home at Vale Top Team. In the modern era of cross-training and specialized camp partnerships, Nogueira views collective success through a lens of absolute collaboration and mutual respect.
"A real coach always wants what’s best for his athlete," Nogueira stated, offering a pragmatic perspective on the modern fight camp ecosystem. "Fighting Nerds is a great team, and I have great friends there, like Flavio Alvaro and Sucupira. Our work complements each other. When I need to, I take my athletes to Sao Paulo, and they bring Fighting Nerds athletes to Taubate, where Vale Top Team is based. I learn a lot from them and we all share the same goal: to make Carlos the first Brazilian champion at 170 pounds."
That shared ambition now culminates in the upcoming title eliminator in Toronto. While Nogueira readily acknowledges that Michael Morales represents an elite-level threat, describing the undefeated Ecuadorian as "a different animal," his analytical breakdown of the matchup leaves little room for doubt regarding how he believes the fight will ultimately conclude.
Nogueira confidently predicts that Prates will find a way to finish the unbeaten contender somewhere in the second round, leveraging Morales’ own aggressive tendencies against him.
"Morales tends to leave himself very exposed because he goes all-in, and that works in Prates’ favor," Nogueira continued. "We have five rounds to work with, but I believe Carlos will finish him somewhere between the middle and the end of the second round. The most important thing is movement and not trying to finish the fight with a single punch. Prates’ only UFC loss came when he tried to finish the fight with one shot. But he has improved a lot in that area."
This evolution in Prates’ striking patience and defensive responsibility has been a focal point of his development under Nogueira and his expanded coaching staff. By moving away from over-relying on a single, concussive blow and instead focusing on accumulated damage, angles, and sustained volume enabled by advanced footwork, Prates has transformed into one of the most feared knockout artists competing under the UFC banner.
Furthermore, Nogueira offered a sharp tactical observation regarding potential future matchups, specifically targeting Islam Makhachev. The head coach suggested that if the underlying intent behind any matchmaking adjustments was to extend Prates into deep waters, force him to fight a grueling five-round affair, and accumulate extensive tape for future study, those efforts are bound to fall short.
"If the idea was to pull Islam out of this fight so Prates would have to go five rounds and he could gather more footage to study him, he’ll be disappointed, because this fight won’t make it to the third round," Nogueira asserted.
Despite the immediate and singular focus required to capture interim gold on January 30, Vale Top Team has not lost sight of the broader historical picture. Nogueira made it clear that once the business with Morales is settled in Toronto, the ultimate destination remains a showdown with the dominant lightweight champion turned welterweight challenger, provided all goes according to plan.
"Our focus is now 100% on the interim belt, but five or six months later, we want to fight Islam for the undisputed title," Nogueira concluded. "There’s no doubt he is one of the greats in the history of this sport."
