Carlos Prates revealed he and Ian Garry have discussed a plan to eventually face each other in a title fight. According to Prates, Garry called him about three weeks ago to propose a scenario where Prates defeats Maddalena, Garry beats Makhachev, and then they fight each other in Brazil. Prates believes the UFC will make the fight happen if Garry captures the belt, setting up a rematch between them. The plan assumes both fighters win their respective upcoming bouts and that Garry would be challenging for or holding a championship.
Carlos Prates has revealed that he and Ian Garry have privately discussed a future title fight between the two welterweights, with a specific roadmap already mapped out.
Prates, who goes by "The Nightmare," disclosed that Garry called him roughly three weeks ago to lay out a scenario: Prates defeats Jack Della Maddalena, Garry beats Islam Makhachev for the welterweight title, and the two then meet in a championship fight on Brazilian soil. Prates indicated he believes the UFC would be willing to book the matchup should Garry win the belt, given the pair have history and the built-in narrative of a rematch.
The Brazilian sits fifth in the welterweight rankings at 32 years old, carrying a 24-7 record. Standing six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach, Prates is one of the more active strikers in the division, landing 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. He rarely pursues takedowns, averaging just 0.21 per 15 minutes, making him an almost exclusively stand-and-bang threat out of a switch stance.
Makhachev, meanwhile, is the reigning welterweight champion at 28-1, and at 34 years old remains one of the most complete fighters in the sport. The Russian southpaw lands 2.63 significant strikes per minute at an elite 58 percent accuracy and adds persistent wrestling pressure at 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes, complemented by 1.1 submission attempts in that same window.
Why it matters
- A Garry title win over Makhachev would immediately reshape the welterweight landscape
- Prates versus Garry carries existing rivalry context, adding weight to any eventual booking
- The proposed Brazil location would give Prates a significant home-crowd advantage
- Both fighters must first clear significant obstacles before the scenario becomes reality
