Ian Machado Garry and Michael Morales are trading barbs over a potential welterweight main event, with the UFC's number two and number three contenders disagreeing on how close the fight actually is to happening.

But Garry's own social media rant suggested the booking is not as settled as his challenge made it sound, with him accusing Morales of making excuses.

Morales, meanwhile, has been calling out names well above his own fight. Garry fired back with his own question about Morales' activity: 'How long has it been since he's fought?'

The numbers underline the stakes. Garry sits at number two in the division despite dropping his last fight, a unanimous decision loss to Makhachev in August, and carries an Elo rating of 1603 from 17 bouts. Morales, ranked third, actually rates higher at 1610 over just five fights, while Prates sits at 1620 and Makhachev tops the group at 1629.

Garry has made clear what beating Morales would mean to him, saying 'For me there's only one fight that makes sense right now, and that's Michael Morales. When I beat him, I'm the only one who deserves a title shot. I go out there and I finish Michael Morales, get my hand raised, it's undeniable that I'm right back up there for a title shot.'

Dana White hasn't let the Makhachev fight go either. He's doubled down on criticizing Garry's conduct in the fifth round of their title clash, saying, 'You go out and start shaking his hands and hugging him and do that when they're strapping the belt on you. Show Islam all the love you want when the fight's over. This is the fifth round. You have five minutes to shock the world. and you didn't do it.'