Carlos Prates and Ian Garry have discussed a plan where they would eventually meet in a title fight. According to Prates, Garry called him about three weeks ago and they mapped out a scenario where Prates defeats Maddalena and Garry beats Makhachev, leading to a championship bout between them in Brazil. Prates believes the UFC would make the fight happen, and if Garry wins the belt, they would have a rematch. The plan represents an optimistic long-term vision that requires both fighters to win their next scheduled bouts. Neither fighter currently holds a title, making this a hypothetical future scenario rather than an imminent matchup.
Carlos Prates and Ian Garry have mapped out an ambitious long-term plan that would see the two welterweights eventually collide for a UFC title, with Prates revealing that Garry initiated the conversation roughly three weeks ago.
According to Prates, the two fighters spoke and outlined a specific scenario: Prates defeats Jack Della Maddalena in his next outing, Garry goes on to beat lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, and the two then meet in a championship fight in Brazil. Prates added that if Garry were to win the belt, a rematch clause would also be part of the arrangement. Prates expressed confidence that the UFC would be willing to put the bout together under those circumstances.
Prates, nicknamed "The Nightmare," enters his next assignment ranked fifth in the welterweight division. The 32-year-old Brazilian, who trains out of Vale Top Team, carries a 24-7 record and presents a genuine offensive threat on the feet. Standing six feet one inch tall with a 78-inch reach, he lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 55 percent accuracy, making him one of the more dangerous strikers in the 170-pound class.
Why it matters
- Both fighters must first win their respective scheduled bouts before any matchup becomes realistic
- A Prates victory over Della Maddalena would likely push him further up the welterweight rankings, strengthening his case for a title shot
- The proposed fight in Brazil would carry significant weight for Prates, competing in front of a home crowd
- Garry defeating a reigning champion from another division would represent one of the sport's bigger upsets, fundamentally reshaping the welterweight landscape
For now, the conversation remains a hypothetical blueprint rather than a formal agreement, and both men have significant obstacles to clear before it can advance any further.
