Carlos Prates has revealed a plan discussed with Ian Garry about three weeks ago regarding a potential future title fight between them. According to Prates, the scenario involves him defeating Michael Morales while Garry defeats Islam Makhachev to win the lightweight title. If both scenarios play out, the two would then meet for a title fight in Brazil. Prates suggested this would be a rematch, implying they have fought previously or are scheduled to fight. He expressed confidence that the UFC would make the fight happen if Garry captures championship gold. The ambitious plan depends on both fighters winning their respective upcoming bouts against difficult opposition.
Carlos Prates has gone public with an ambitious two-fight blueprint he says he sketched out with Ian Garry roughly three weeks ago, one that ends with a title fight between the two men on Brazilian soil.
The plan, as Prates describes it, runs through two separate bouts first. "The Nightmare" must get past Michael Morales, while Garry must defeat Islam Makhachev to claim the lightweight championship. Should both results fall into place, Prates says he is confident the UFC would then set up a rematch between the pair in Brazil.
Prates, ranked fifth in the welterweight division at 32 years old, carries a 24-7 record and represents Brazil's Vale Top Team. The six-foot-one southpaw switch-hitter is one of the busier strikers in the 170-pound class, landing 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, and his 78-inch reach gives him a physical edge in most matchups.
Standing between Prates and that vision is Michael Morales, the undefeated Ecuadorian ranked second at welterweight. The 27-year-old owns a perfect 19-0 record and leads the division in striking output, landing a remarkable 5.62 significant strikes per minute out of the Entram Gym. At six feet tall with a 79-inch reach, Morales represents the stiffest test of Prates's career to date.
On the other side of the equation sits Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion from Russia and the top-ranked pound-for-pound fighter on the roster. The 34-year-old holds a 28-1 record and blends elite grappling, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes, with sharp striking at 58 percent accuracy — making him a formidable obstacle for Garry's portion of the plan.
Why it matters
- A Prates win over the undefeated No. 2-ranked Morales would vault him into title contention regardless of the broader plan.
- Makhachev defending against Garry keeps the welterweight title picture at the center of divisional attention.
- Prates framing this as a potential rematch adds an existing personal dimension to what would be a high-stakes championship bout.
