Carlos Prates believes the UFC welterweight title path is already lined up. After stopping Jack Della Maddalena at UFC Perth, Prates expects Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Machado Garry next and says he will fight the winner.
Prates is the No. 2 UFC welterweight contender. Makhachev is the UFC welterweight champion after moving up from lightweight, while Garry is ranked No. 1 in the division. Prates said the math is simple.
“I think he going to fight Makhachev and I going to fight the winner.”
Watch the full interview below:
Prates Says Garry Has “A Real Chance To Beat Islam”
Prates said he does not expect the UFC to book an immediate rematch if Makhachev loses. He also said he spoke with the promotion after his last fight and believes his title shot is next no matter who wins.
“I don’t think they’re going to do a rematch if Makhachev lose. And I talk with them, you know, with the UFC after my fight. Of course, we talk some things I cannot say, but I really think I will be the next, no matter who get the win between Islam and Garry, I will be the next.”
Prates is willing to wait because he wants to heal and sharpen his game before fighting for the belt.
“It’s good for me. Get my injuries better, train a little bit more, improve, grow up as a fighter. If it get long to fight for the belt, I will be more prepared.”
On the matchup itself, Prates picked Makhachev as the favorite but did not dismiss Garry. That matters because Garry already beat Prates by decision in Kansas City, giving Prates a direct reason to want that version of the title fight.
“I think the favorite is Makhachev, and I think he going to win, but I really think Ian have some skills to beat Islam. He can beat Islam. He have a real chance to beat Islam.”
“I want him to win and then we can do a rematch for the belt. Would be amazing.”
Prates said beating Makhachev would be massive because of Makhachev’s pound-for-pound status, but the Garry fight carries unfinished business.
“Beat Islam would be huge in my career because he’s number one pound-for-pound, but I still have some business to do with Ian. No matter who get, I’m going to fight them. I’m going to fight for the belt against the winner and I’m going to bring the belt to Brazil.”
Prates also pushed back on Michael Morales and Sean Brady as alternate title-shot threats. His argument is that his knockout run and win over Della Maddalena should keep him ahead of the pack, especially after Makhachev previously called him the most interesting option following UFC Perth.
“My last three fights I won by knockout. Ian, the last three fights he won two fights. One against me of course, and two fights he won by decision. After a year I will be the next, bro. I don’t want to fight nobody.”
“Morales, Brady, they can cry, they can scream, but I will be the next. I going to fight the winner.”
Prates also addressed a possible Ilia Topuria wrinkle. Asked if he worries about Topuria winning at lightweight and then chasing Makhachev’s welterweight belt, Prates said he expects Topuria to stay at 155 pounds.
“No. I think he going to still fighting on the 155.”
Then Prates flipped the idea around. He wants the welterweight belt first, then would ask Topuria to move up to 170.
“I’m thinking about to get the belt and then maybe ask if he want come to 170. Let’s do this. Let’s dance.”
When asked about calling Topuria one of his dream fights, Prates framed it as a money fight.
“Yeah, it’s a super fight, you know, money.”
Topuria is the current UFC lightweight champion and former featherweight champion. Prates is a full-sized welterweight, and he said his real height is 190 centimeters instead of the 185 centimeters listed online.
“The internet, I’m 185, but for real I 190.”
