Following his quick finish of Jack Della Maddalena, Carlos Prates now has ammunition to call out Islam Makhachev. The post notes that Prates stopped Della Maddalena faster than Makhachev did in their respective fights. This gives Prates a talking point for potential trash talk and media engagement with the lightweight champion. Makhachev now faces multiple potential media-driven opponents including Ian Garry and Shawn Brady. The commentary suggests that Garry and Brady would not be the primary challengers in terms of generating buzz. The finish establishes Prates as a legitimate threat and conversation topic in relation to Makhachev.
Carlos Prates has emerged as a loud voice in the welterweight title conversation after stopping Jack Della Maddalena more quickly than Islam Makhachev did, giving the Brazilian striker a tangible talking point to direct at the reigning champion.
Prates, known as "The Nightmare," carries a 24-7 record and sits fifth in the welterweight rankings at 32 years old. The Brazilian southpaw-turned-switch hitter out of Vale Top Team stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach and produces 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. His finish of Della Maddalena arrived faster than Makhachev managed against the same opponent, a comparison that now fuels legitimate media engagement between Prates and the champion.
Jack Della Maddalena, ranked fourth in the division at 29, entered the fight as one of welterweight's most active strikers, averaging an eye-catching 5.57 significant strikes per minute. The Australian from Scrappy MMA holds an 18-4 record and had been considered a serious contender before Prates dispatched him.
Islam Makhachev, the welterweight champion and pound-for-pound leader, is 28-1 at 34 years old. The Russian from Eagles MMA blends elite grappling — 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes — with 58 percent striking accuracy, and the shared opponent comparison gives Prates a concrete platform to press his case publicly.
Why it matters
- Prates finishing Della Maddalena faster than Makhachev creates a direct and credible callout narrative
- At fifth in the rankings, Prates is already within range of a title shot conversation
- Makhachev faces competing calls from multiple contenders, including Ian Garry and Shawn Brady, which could complicate title-fight scheduling
- The matchup would pit Makhachev's grappling-heavy style against Prates's high-volume switch striking and length advantage
