Carlos Prates and Ian Garry have discussed a plan that would see them meet in a title fight. According to Prates, Garry called him about three weeks ago to outline the scenario. The plan involves Prates defeating Maddalena and Garry defeating Makhachev, after which they would fight in Brazil. Prates believes the UFC would make the fight happen, and if Garry wins the belt, they would have a rematch. The post includes a note questioning whether the ambitious plan will actually come to fruition.
Carlos Prates has revealed that Ian Garry reached out to him roughly three weeks ago to propose an ambitious two-step plan that would ultimately culminate in a welterweight title fight on Brazilian soil.
According to Prates, the scenario Garry outlined requires both men to first win their respective upcoming bouts — Prates over Joaquin Buckley's replacement or next opponent Maddalena, and Garry over current champion Islam Makhachev — before meeting in Brazil for the belt. Prates added that he believes the UFC would be willing to make the fight, and that a rematch clause would be built in should Garry capture the title.
Prates, nicknamed "The Nightmare," enters the conversation riding momentum as a ranked welterweight contender. The 32-year-old Brazilian, who trains out of Vale Top Team, carries a 24-7 record and holds the number-five spot in the division. Standing six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach, the switch-stance striker lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate — figures that place him among the division's more dangerous stand-up threats.
Verified data for Garry was not available in the current database, but the Irishman is understood to be a prominent welterweight contender based on the context of the reported exchange.
Why it matters
- A Prates title shot would represent a significant rise for a fighter currently sitting fifth in the welterweight rankings.
- Hosting a UFC title fight in Brazil would carry considerable promotional weight and crowd support for Prates.
- Both conditions of the plan — two separate high-profile victories — must first be met, making the timeline uncertain at best.
