Islam Makhachev posted a brief reaction to Carlos Prates's knockout victory over Jack Della Maddalena, calling him "Nutella cake" in a lighthearted jab. The comment appears to be Makhachev's playful response to Prates's callout for a title shot. The welterweight champion's reaction came shortly after Prates declared he wants to face the winner of Makhachev vs Garry at UFC 330. This social media exchange adds another layer to the developing storyline around potential future title challengers in the welterweight division.
UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev took to social media after Carlos Prates knocked out Jack Della Maddalena, offering a brief and playful response to the Brazilian's title-shot callout — addressing Prates simply as "Nutella cake."
Makhachev, 34, holds a 28-1 record and is the reigning welterweight champion, currently ranked number one in the pound-for-pound standings. The Russian southpaw out of Eagles MMA is known for his relentless grappling, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes, and has also developed into a precise striker, landing significant strikes at a 58 percent accuracy rate. He is set to defend the title against Ian Garry at UFC 330.
Prates, nicknamed "The Nightmare," improved his record to 24-7 with the victory over Della Maddalena and currently sits fifth in the welterweight rankings. The 32-year-old Brazilian, who stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach, is a switch-stance striker who lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. Following his finish, Prates made clear he wants to face the winner of Makhachev versus Garry, setting his sights firmly on welterweight gold.
Della Maddalena falls to 18-4 with the defeat. The 29-year-old Australian ranked fourth in the division and was among the most active strikers in the welterweight class, averaging 5.57 significant strikes per minute before the loss.
Why it matters
- Prates's win over a top-five opponent strengthens his case for a future title shot at 170 pounds
- Makhachev's public acknowledgment of Prates, however lighthearted, signals awareness of the division's developing challenger picture
- A potential Makhachev versus Prates matchup would contrast elite grappling against a long, high-volume switch-stance striker with a 78-inch reach advantage
