Carlos Prates has revealed a plan discussed with Ian Garry approximately three weeks ago involving a potential title fight between the two. According to Prates, the scenario would see him defeat Madalena while Garry beats Makhachev, setting up a championship bout in Brazil. Prates believes the UFC would book this matchup, and if Garry wins the belt, it would set up a rematch between them. The post notes this is an ambitious plan but questions whether it can be realized.
Carlos Prates has gone public with an ambitious roadmap he and Ian Garry sketched out roughly three weeks ago, one that ends with the two welterweights colliding for a world title on Brazilian soil.
The plan, as Prates describes it, is straightforward in concept if not in execution: he finishes his own fight while Garry defeats reigning welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, after which the UFC books a championship rematch between Prates and Garry in Brazil. Should Garry capture the belt, Prates envisions that victory setting up a second meeting between them — this time with gold on the line.
Prates, nicknamed "The Nightmare," enters the picture as the number-five ranked welterweight at 32 years old, carrying a 24-7 record out of Vale Top Team in Brazil. The six-foot-one southpaw-switch striker is one of the division's most active offensive threats, landing 3.77 significant strikes per minute with 55 percent accuracy and a 78-inch reach that gives him problems at range for nearly anyone he faces.
Standing between that plan and reality is Makhachev, the 28-1 Russian champion who has dominated the 170-pound division with a blend of elite grappling and efficient striking. The 34-year-old Eagles MMA product averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 2.63 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 58 percent accuracy, making him one of the most complete fighters in the sport regardless of division.
Why it matters
- A Prates win combined with a Garry upset of Makhachev would create an immediate title contender narrative around the Brazilian.
- Prates at rank five would need his own result to go right before any title conversation becomes credible.
- The Brazil location adds a promotional dimension the UFC has historically found appealing for marquee welterweight matchups.
