Carlos Prates revealed that he and Ian Garry have discussed a plan for a future title fight between them. According to Prates, Garry called him about three weeks ago to outline the scenario: Prates would defeat Michael Morales, Garry would beat Islam Makhachev, and then they would fight for the title in Brazil. Prates believes the UFC would make this fight happen and that if Garry wins the belt, they are destined for a rematch. The post questions the feasibility of executing this ambitious plan. No official confirmation from the UFC or Garry has been provided regarding this potential matchup.
Carlos Prates has revealed that he and Ian Garry have already mapped out an ambitious path toward a welterweight title fight rematch between the two, with Prates disclosing that Garry personally contacted him roughly three weeks ago to lay out the scenario. The plan, as described by Prates, requires both men to clear significant hurdles first: Prates would need to defeat Michael Morales, Garry would need to dethrone welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, and then the two would meet for the belt in Brazil. No official confirmation from the UFC or Garry has been made public.
Prates, known as "The Nightmare," enters this picture as a 32-year-old Brazilian striker currently ranked fifth in the welterweight division. Fighting out of Vale Top Team, he carries a 24-7 record and generates 3.77 significant strikes per minute with 55 percent accuracy. At six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach, he is a physical and aggressive presence at 170 pounds.
Standing between Prates and that vision is Michael Morales, the undefeated Ecuadorian ranked second in the division at just 27 years old. Morales holds a perfect 19-0 record and leads the welterweight division in striking volume, landing 5.62 significant strikes per minute out of the Entram Gym. He measures six feet tall with a 79-inch reach.
The other half of the equation involves dethroning Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion from Russia and the number-one pound-for-pound fighter in the world. The 34-year-old Eagles MMA product holds a 28-1 record and blends elite striking accuracy of 58 percent with 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the most complete champions in the sport.
Why it matters
- Prates and Garry have an existing history, giving a potential rematch built-in narrative weight
- A Prates victory over the second-ranked Morales would dramatically strengthen his title case
- Makhachev's unmatched combination of grappling and striking makes Garry's side of the plan a considerable obstacle
- The Brazil location adds a significant promotional dimension if the plan were ever to materialize
