Carlos Prates and Ian Garry have discussed a plan where they would eventually meet for a title fight. According to the plan, Prates would defeat Madalena while Garry beats Makhachev, setting up a championship bout between them in Brazil. Prates believes the UFC would make this fight happen. If Garry wins the belt, Prates envisions a rematch scenario. The post notes skepticism about whether this ambitious plan can actually be realized.
Carlos Prates and Ian Garry have gone public with an ambitious two-step scenario that would eventually bring them together for a welterweight title fight, with the plan contingent on each man winning their respective next bouts.
Prates, ranked fifth in the welterweight division, holds a 24-7 record and fights out of Vale Top Team in Brazil. The 32-year-old switch-stance striker stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach and has built a reputation as one of the division's most dangerous stand-up fighters, landing 3.77 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate. His side of the plan calls for him to defeat his upcoming opponent Madalena, after which he envisions a title-fight booking in Brazil if Garry handles his own business.
Garry's portion of the equation requires him to defeat Islam Makhachev — a significant undertaking — and capture a championship in the process. Should that happen, Prates believes the UFC would move to make the Brazil matchup a reality. Prates has also floated a rematch scenario should Garry hold the belt at that point, suggesting he has thought through multiple outcomes.
Why it matters
- A win over Madalena would keep Prates firmly in welterweight title contention from his current fifth-ranked position.
- The plan hinges entirely on Garry defeating a champion in Makhachev, which would represent one of the sport's bigger upsets if it occurs.
- A potential title fight staged in Brazil would carry significant promotional weight given Prates's home-country following.
- Skepticism surrounds whether both prerequisites can fall into place, making the scenario speculative despite both fighters appearing aligned on the concept.
