Carlos Prates and Ian Garry have discussed a potential plan where they would eventually face each other for a UFC title. According to the post, Prates claims 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 Brazil for a championship bout. Prates believes the UFC would make the fight happen, and if Garry wins the belt, it would set up a rematch between them. The post questions whether the ambitious plan can actually be realized.
Carlos Prates and Ian Garry have reportedly mapped out an ambitious path to a UFC welterweight title fight, with Prates claiming the Irishman called him roughly three weeks ago to lay out the scenario.
According to Prates, the plan is straightforward in concept if not in execution: he defeats Jack Della Maddalena in his next outing, Garry upsets reigning champion Islam Makhachev, and the two then collide in Brazil for the belt. Prates said he believes the UFC would be willing to book that fight, and noted that a Garry title reign would effectively set up a rematch between them.
Prates, nicknamed "The Nightmare," is ranked fifth in the welterweight division at 32 years old. The Brazilian southpaw switch-hitter carries a 24-7 record and fights out of Vale Top Team. At six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach, he is an active striker who lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, making him one of the more dangerous stand-up threats in the division.
Standing in the way of the entire scenario is Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion from Russia who competes out of Eagles MMA. The 34-year-old holds a 28-1 record and has established himself as the top pound-for-pound fighter on the roster. Makhachev averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands strikes at a remarkable 58 percent accuracy rate, underscoring just how steep a task Garry would face.
Why it matters
- A Prates win over Della Maddalena would push him firmly into title contention from his current fifth-place ranking
- The plan hinges entirely on Garry defeating one of the most dominant champions in the sport
- If it came together, a title fight in Brazil would carry enormous regional significance for Prates and his fanbase
- The call between the two fighters suggests mutual respect and a shared willingness to eventually share the octagon
