Carlos Prates and Ian Garry have discussed a plan where they would eventually meet in a title fight. According to the plan shared by Prates, he would defeat Vicente Luque (referred to as Maddalena), Garry would defeat Islam Makhachev, and then the two would fight in Brazil. Prates believes the UFC would make this fight happen, and if Garry becomes champion, it would set up a rematch scenario. The post notes this is an ambitious plan but questions whether it will actually come to fruition. Prates stated Garry called him about three weeks ago to discuss this potential roadmap.
Carlos Prates has revealed an ambitious roadmap he and Ian Garry have been discussing that would ultimately lead to a welterweight title fight between the two on Brazilian soil.
Prates, nicknamed "The Nightmare," disclosed that Garry reached out to him roughly three weeks ago to lay out the potential plan. As Prates described it, the sequence would see him defeat Vicente Luque, Garry go on to beat reigning champion Islam Makhachev, and the two then collide for the belt in Brazil. Prates expressed confidence that the UFC would be willing to book that fight if the prerequisites fell into place.
The 32-year-old Brazilian currently sits fifth in the welterweight rankings and carries a 24-7-0 record. Standing six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach, Prates fights out of Vale Top Team and operates from a switch stance. He lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate, making him a credible threat on the feet.
Standing across from him in the proposed first step would be Vicente Luque, "The Silent Assassin," a 34-year-old welterweight with a 24-12-1 record. Luque is one of the division's most relentless strikers, generating an impressive 4.83 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy, with a 75-inch reach giving him range to work with.
The far steeper half of the plan involves Garry unseating Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion. The 34-year-old Russian is one of the pound-for-pound elite, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing strikes at a remarkable 58 percent accuracy rate across his 28-1-0 career.
Why it matters
- A Prates win over Luque would vault "The Nightmare" deeper into title contention from his current fifth-ranked position
- Garry defeating Makhachev would be one of the division's biggest upsets in recent memory, reshaping the entire welterweight landscape
- A potential title fight in Brazil adds a significant promotional dimension, given Prates's home-crowd appeal
