Carlos Prates and Ian Garry have developed a plan for a future championship encounter between them. According to Prates, Garry called him approximately three weeks ago to discuss the scenario. The plan involves Prates defeating Maddalena while Garry defeats Makhachev, after which the two would meet in Brazil for a title fight. Prates believes the UFC would make this fight happen, and if Garry wins the belt, it would set up a rematch between them. The post notes skepticism about whether this ambitious plan will actually materialize given the uncertainties involved.
Carlos Prates has revealed that Ian Garry reached out to him roughly three weeks ago to map out a potential championship path that would ultimately bring the two welterweights together for a title fight in Brazil.
Prates, ranked fifth in the welterweight division, said the conversation centered on a straightforward sequence of events: Prates takes care of Maddalena, Garry defeats Islam Makhachev, and the two then collide for the belt on Brazilian soil. The 32-year-old Brazilian, who fights out of Vale Top Team, carries a 24-7 record into that matchup with Maddalena and has built his reputation as one of the division's most dangerous strikers. Standing six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach, Prates lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate — numbers that reflect both his volume and his precision as a switch-stance fighter.
Garry's side of the equation is considerably steeper. The Irishman would first need to dethrone a pound-for-pound elite in Makhachev, currently the lightweight champion, a task that would require Garry to move up or Makhachev to come down — details that remain unaddressed in what Prates has described of their exchange. Prates added that if Garry were to capture gold, the two would already have the framework of a rematch in place.
Why it matters
- A title fight between Prates and Garry would carry significant welterweight rankings implications, with Prates currently sitting fifth in the division.
- The plan hinges on two separate and uncertain outcomes, including one against a reigning champion in another weight class.
- Style-wise, Prates's high-output striking game against Garry's technical stand-up would make for a compelling matchup if the scenario ever comes together.
Prates expressed confidence that the UFC would be willing to book the fight should both men win, though the ambition of the roadmap has drawn understandable skepticism.
