Carlos Prates revealed a plan he discussed with Ian Garry approximately three weeks ago for a potential title fight in Brazil. According to Prates, the scenario involves him defeating Joaquin Buckley (presumably the referenced Maddalena), while Garry defeats Islam Makhachev, setting up a championship bout between the two in Brazil. Prates believes the UFC would make the fight happen and suggested it would be a rematch if Garry holds the belt. The plan is highly speculative and depends on multiple outcomes going exactly as proposed. Both fighters currently compete in the welterweight division, though Garry would need to move up or Prates down for a fight with lightweight champion Makhachev to make sense.
Carlos Prates has revealed a speculative but ambitious plan he says he discussed with Ian Garry roughly three weeks ago that would set the stage for a welterweight title fight in Brazil.
According to Prates, the scenario requires a chain of specific results: Prates gets past Joaquin Buckley, Garry defeats Islam Makhachev for the welterweight belt, and the two then meet in a championship rematch on Brazilian soil. Prates reportedly believes the UFC would be willing to make that fight happen, though the entire premise hinges on outcomes that are far from certain. None of this has been officially confirmed.
Prates, nicknamed "The Nightmare," enters the conversation ranked fifth in the welterweight division at 24-7-0. The 32-year-old Brazilian, who trains out of Vale Top Team, is a switch-stance striker with a six-foot-one frame and a 78-inch reach. He lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, making him one of the more active offensive fighters in the division.
Standing in his way in this hypothetical is Joaquin Buckley, ranked eleventh at welterweight with a record of 21-8-0. The 32-year-old American southpaw out of Murcielago MMA carries a 76-inch reach and generates 3.88 significant strikes per minute, though his 36 percent striking accuracy reflects a high-volume, aggressive style. Buckley also averages 1.54 takedowns per 15 minutes.
At the top of the chain sits Islam Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion and the number-one pound-for-pound fighter in the sport. The 34-year-old Russian carries a 28-1-0 record and a fight IQ built around his 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and a 58 percent striking accuracy that makes him dangerous even on the feet.
Why it matters
- A Prates win over Buckley would push a top-five contender closer to title contention in a stacked welterweight division
- The plan implies Garry believes he can dethrone the dominant Makhachev, a significant statement of confidence
- A potential title fight in Brazil would carry enormous promotional weight for a division hungry for a marquee event
