Carlos Prates and Ian Garry have discussed a plan for a future title fight between them. According to Prates, Garry called him about three weeks ago to outline the scenario. The plan involves Prates defeating Maddalena and Garry beating Makhachev, after which they would meet in a title bout in Brazil. Prates believes the UFC would book the fight if Garry wins the belt, setting up a rematch between them. The post includes skepticism about whether the plan will actually come to fruition.
Carlos Prates has revealed that Ian Garry reached out to him roughly three weeks ago to propose a blueprint for a future world title fight between the two welterweights, with Brazil as the intended stage.
Prates, nicknamed "The Nightmare," holds a 24-7 record and sits at number five in the welterweight division. The 32-year-old Brazilian trains out of Vale Top Team and is one of the busiest offensive fighters in the 170-pound class, averaging 3.77 significant strikes landed per minute at 55 percent accuracy. Standing six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach, he brings considerable physical advantages to the pocket.
According to Prates, the plan Garry laid out requires both men to win their respective upcoming bouts. Prates would need to defeat Maddalena, while Garry would have to dethrone reigning welterweight champion Islam Makhachev. Should both results go as planned, Prates says the UFC would then book the title rematch in Brazil.
Makhachev, the current welterweight champion, carries a 28-1 record and is regarded as one of the most complete fighters in the sport. The 34-year-old Russian southpaw averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands strikes at a 58 percent accuracy rate, making him a formidable obstacle standing between Garry and the belt Garry would need to make any such arrangement possible.
Why it matters
- A Garry title win would immediately reshape the welterweight landscape and put Prates in line for a high-profile championship bout on home soil.
- The scenario depends on two separate outcomes, both of them far from certain, adding significant uncertainty to whether this plan ever materializes.
- Prates and Garry have a prior meeting, meaning a second fight would carry additional narrative weight beyond the title stakes.
- Brazil hosting a welterweight title fight would mark a major event for the UFC in South America.
Prates himself acknowledged skepticism that the full plan will come together as envisioned.
