Carlos Prates revealed a plan discussed with Ian Garry approximately three weeks ago for a future title fight. According to Prates, the scenario involves him defeating Vicente Luque (referred to as Maddalena), Garry defeating Islam Makhachev, and then the two facing each other in Brazil for the championship. Prates expressed confidence that the UFC would make the fight happen. He suggested that if Garry wins the belt, their meeting would serve as a rematch, though the post does not clarify what their first encounter would be. The plan appears aspirational and dependent on both fighters winning their next respective bouts.
Carlos Prates has revealed an ambitious two-step plan, discussed with Ian Garry roughly three weeks ago, that would culminate in a welterweight title fight on Brazilian soil.
Prates, known as "The Nightmare," laid out the scenario publicly: he defeats Vicente Luque in his next outing, Garry defeats reigning champion Islam Makhachev, and the two then meet in Brazil for the belt. The Brazilian fighter expressed confidence that the UFC would sanction the matchup if both men hold up their end of the bargain. Prates also indicated the bout would serve as a rematch between the two, though the nature of any previous meeting was not clarified.
Prates, 32, holds a 24-7-0 record and sits at number five in the welterweight rankings. The switch-stance Brazilian stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach and lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, making him one of the division's more dangerous strikers.
Standing between Prates and that scenario is Vicente Luque, "The Silent Assassin." The 34-year-old American carries a 24-12-1 record and is one of the most active volume strikers in the welterweight division, averaging 4.83 significant strikes per minute. At five-foot-eleven with a 75-inch reach, Luque is a durable and well-rounded threat.
On the other side of the equation, Garry would need to dethrone Islam Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion from Russia. Makhachev, also 34, owns a 28-1-0 record and is ranked at the top of the pound-for-pound list. The southpaw is a suffocating grappler, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 58 percent striking accuracy.
Why it matters
- A Prates title shot would represent a rapid rise for a fighter sitting fifth in the welterweight rankings
- Garry would first need to pull off one of the division's most difficult upsets against the dominant Makhachev
- Both legs of the plan must land before any title fight in Brazil becomes a realistic possibility
