Carlos Prates was warmly welcomed by fans at an open training session in Perth, Australia. The crowd was enthusiastic and supportive throughout the session, never stopping their cheers. The post questions whether Perth can still be considered "enemy territory" for the Brazilian fighter given the strong local support. Photos from the event were provided by CrashMMA. This suggests Prates may have more fan support than expected despite fighting Jack Madalena in Australia.
Carlos Prates received a rousing welcome from Australian fans at an open training session in Perth ahead of his upcoming welterweight bout against local favorite Jack Madalena, photos from the event shared by CrashMMA showed.
Prates, nicknamed "The Nightmare," enters the fight carrying a 24-7 record and sitting at number five in the welterweight rankings. The 32-year-old Brazilian, who trains out of Vale Top Team, stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach and fights out of a switch stance. He has built a reputation as a high-output striker, landing 3.77 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 55 percent accuracy — numbers that rank among the sharper in the division.
Why it matters
- Prates is fighting on what would typically be considered hostile ground, yet the Perth crowd showed genuine enthusiasm for the visiting Brazilian
- The warm reception complicates the usual home-crowd advantage that Madalena might expect fighting in his own backyard in Australia
- A top-five welterweight clash carries meaningful rankings implications, with the winner positioning himself for a run at the upper tier of the division
- Prates brings elite striking volume and accuracy into the matchup, setting up an intriguing style test against a fighter competing in front of his countrymen
The energy at the open session suggests the Perth audience may be less partisan than expected, with Prates drawing genuine affection rather than the indifference or hostility a foreign contender might typically encounter. Whether that goodwill carries into fight night remains to be seen, but the reception signals that "The Nightmare" has built a following that crosses borders.
