Islam Makhachev responded to Carlos Prates's recent victory with a humorous social media comment calling him "Nutella cake." The reaction came following Prates's knockout win, which has generated significant discussion about potential future opponents for the lightweight champion. Makhachev's playful jab suggests he is aware of Prates as a potential challenger. The comment has circulated widely on Russian MMA social media channels. Details about the specific context of the "Nutella cake" reference are limited in the post.
Islam Makhachev took to social media to fire a playful shot at Carlos Prates following the Brazilian's recent knockout victory, referring to the welterweight contender as "Nutella cake" in a comment that quickly spread across Russian MMA channels.
Makhachev, 34, holds a 28-1-0 record and currently reigns as welterweight champion, sitting at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings. The Dagestan native trains out of Eagles MMA and brings a well-rounded game built on pressure striking and elite grappling, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a striking accuracy of 58 percent. His southpaw style and suffocating control have defined his run at the top of the division.
Prates, nicknamed "The Nightmare," enters the conversation ranked fifth in the welterweight division with a 24-7-0 record. The 32-year-old Brazilian out of Vale Top Team is a switch-stance striker who generates serious offensive output, landing 3.77 significant strikes per minute. Standing six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach, he carries physical advantages over many opponents and has drawn attention with his finishing ability.
Why it matters
- Makhachev's public acknowledgment of Prates, even in jest, signals the champion is tracking the division's most active finishers.
- Prates's knockout result has pushed him further into the title conversation as the fifth-ranked welterweight.
- A potential matchup would pit Makhachev's grappling dominance against Prates's high-volume striking and significant reach edge.
- The "Nutella cake" remark, however lighthearted, adds a layer of public rivalry that could build toward a future booking.
