Carlos Prates announced he will attend UFC 330 in August to watch the welterweight title fight between Islam Makhachev and Ian Garry, declaring he wants to face the winner next. Prates expressed confidence in his striking abilities, stating he can strike with hands, legs, and knees. He acknowledged Jack Della Maddalena's good boxing and said he was wary of his hands, but believes he is the superior striker. The Brazilian's callout comes immediately after his impressive knockout victory.
Carlos Prates has set his sights on welterweight gold, announcing plans to attend UFC 330 in August and publicly calling out the winner of the championship bout between Islam Makhachev and Ian Garry.
Prates, known as "The Nightmare," made the declaration off the back of an impressive knockout victory, expressing belief that his striking arsenal — combining hands, legs, and knees — makes him the best striker in the division. The 32-year-old Brazilian trains out of Vale Top Team and carries a 24-7 record, currently sitting fifth in the welterweight rankings. At six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach, he lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, making him one of the more dangerous stand-up fighters in the division.
The champion Makhachev, representing Eagles MMA out of Russia, holds a 28-1 record and sits atop both the welterweight division and the pound-for-pound rankings at just 34 years old. The southpaw averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands his strikes at a remarkable 58 percent accuracy, underlining how complete a fighter Prates would need to navigate to claim the title.
Standing in the champion's way at UFC 330 is Jack Della Maddalena, ranked fourth at welterweight and thirteenth pound-for-pound. The 29-year-old Australian out of Scrappy MMA holds an 18-4 record and is one of the division's most prolific strikers, posting 5.57 significant strikes per minute. Prates acknowledged Della Maddalena's boxing as a legitimate threat, citing his hands as something to respect — while still maintaining he is the superior overall striker.
Why it matters
- A win for either Makhachev or Della Maddalena at UFC 330 sets up a high-stakes striker-versus-grappler dynamic against Prates
- Prates and Della Maddalena are ranked fourth and fifth respectively, meaning the callout could reshape the top of the welterweight division
- Prates's 78-inch reach gives him a notable physical edge over both potential opponents
