Carlos Prates stated he expects Ian Garry to win but is ready to face Islam Makhachev if called upon. Responding to doubts about his ground game after Jack Della Maddalena took him down in the first round, Prates emphasized that he is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and does not fear takedowns. The post notes that Prates likely hopes for a Garry matchup as it would be an easier path to the title. Prates is coming off a stunning knockout victory over Della Maddalena, positioning himself as a top contender in the welterweight division.
Carlos Prates is not waiting to see how the welterweight landscape settles. The Brazilian contender has declared himself ready to face champion Islam Makhachev while simultaneously predicting that Ian Garry will win his own upcoming contest, setting up what Prates appears to view as his preferred road to a title shot.
Prates, 32, holds a 24-7 record and sits fifth in the welterweight rankings after delivering a stunning knockout of Jack Della Maddalena. Standing six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach, the switch-stance fighter out of Vale Top Team lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. When questions arose about his grappling after Della Maddalena scored a first-round takedown, Prates pushed back firmly, pointing to his black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as evidence he is not a fighter who needs to fear the ground game.
Della Maddalena, ranked fourth at welterweight, entered that fight as a serious threat. The 29-year-old Australian carries a 18-4 record and one of the division's highest striking outputs at 5.57 significant strikes per minute, making his loss to Prates a result that immediately elevated the Brazilian's stock.
Standing at the top of the division is Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion from Russia. The 34-year-old Eagles MMA product is 28-1 and ranked number one pound-for-pound. He combines elite grappling — averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes — with 58 percent striking accuracy, making him one of the most complete fighters in the sport regardless of weight class.
Why it matters
- Prates calling out Makhachev directly keeps his name central to title conversation following a high-profile win
- His preference for a Garry matchup suggests he sees that route as the more attainable path to a title fight
- The style contrast between Prates's reach and striking output and Makhachev's elite wrestling would present a significant stylistic test for the Brazilian's claimed grappling credentials
