Carlos Prates and Ian Garry have discussed a plan that could lead to them fighting for a championship. According to Prates, Garry called him approximately three weeks ago to outline their scenario. The plan involves Prates defeating Maddalena while Garry defeats Makhachev, which would set up a title fight between them in Brazil. Prates believes the UFC would make this fight happen if Garry wins the belt, creating a rematch opportunity. The commentary notes skepticism about whether this ambitious plan can actually be realized.
Carlos Prates has revealed that Ian Garry reached out to him roughly three weeks ago to sketch out an ambitious two-fight path that could end with a welterweight title bout on Brazilian soil.
According to Prates, Garry laid out a specific sequence: Prates would need to defeat Magno Maddalena while Garry would need to get past Islam Makhachev, a scenario that would then position the two of them for a championship rematch in Brazil. Prates believes the UFC would be willing to make that fight if Garry captures the belt, framing it as a logical and marketable matchup.
Prates, 32, is a Brazilian switch-stance welterweight currently ranked fifth in the division and competing out of Vale Top Team. He carries a professional record of 24-7 and has built his reputation on sharp, high-volume striking — landing 3.77 significant strikes per minute at an accuracy rate of 55 percent, exceptional figures for the 170-pound class. Standing six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach, he presents a difficult physical puzzle for any opponent.
Garry's side of the verified data was not available in the current report, though his role in the plan — a run at the welterweight championship — is central to whether any of this materializes.
Why it matters
- A Garry title win would immediately elevate Prates, currently ranked fifth, into a championship conversation
- Holding the fight in Brazil would give Prates a significant home-crowd advantage and add a layer of commercial appeal
- The plan hinges on two separate outcomes going right simultaneously, which both fighters and observers acknowledge is far from guaranteed
- The callout adds an unusual pre-fight dynamic, with both men publicly invested in the other's result before either has fought
