Carlos Prates and Ian Garry have discussed a plan that would lead to them fighting each other in a title bout. According to Prates, Garry called him about three weeks ago and they mapped out a scenario: Prates would defeat Joaquin Buckley, Garry would beat Islam Makhachev, and then they would fight in Brazil for the title. Prates believes UFC would make the fight happen if Garry wins the belt, setting up a rematch between them. The plan appears highly speculative given the competitive landscape and assumes victories over top contenders and the current champion. No official confirmation exists for any of these proposed matchups.
Carlos Prates has revealed a speculative blueprint for a title fight that he and Ian Garry reportedly mapped out together, though nothing about the plan has been officially confirmed by the UFC.
According to Prates, Garry reached out to him roughly three weeks ago and the two welterweights laid out a scenario: Prates wins his next fight, Garry dethrones the current champion, and the two then meet in Brazil for the belt. Prates believes the promotion would sanction that matchup if Garry holds the title by that point.
Prates, known as "The Nightmare," enters the picture ranked fifth in the welterweight division. The 32-year-old Brazilian trains out of Vale Top Team and carries a 24-7 record. Standing six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach, he is one of the division's more active strikers, averaging 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. The first step in the proposed scenario would see him get past No. 11-ranked Joaquin Buckley.
Buckley, nicknamed "New Mansa," is also 32 and brings a 21-8 record into any potential meeting. The American southpaw out of Murcielago MMA averages 3.88 significant strikes per minute, making him one of the busiest volume strikers in the division, though his 36 percent accuracy suggests some wildness in those exchanges.
The second pillar of the plan requires Garry defeating welterweight champion Islam Makhachev. The 34-year-old Russian holds a 28-1 record and is the reigning welterweight titleholder, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and connecting on 58 percent of his significant strikes — among the highest accuracy marks in the division.
Why it matters
- A Prates title shot would represent a significant leap for a fighter currently sitting fifth in the rankings
- The scenario requires two separate upsets, keeping it firmly in the realm of speculation for now
- A Brazil card built around a title fight would carry substantial promotional weight for the UFC
