Following his knockout victory over Jack Della Maddalena, Carlos Prates is now positioned to call out Islam Makhachev, pointing to his ability to finish an opponent that Makhachev went to decision with. The post suggests that Makhachev now has multiple potential high-profile opponents creating media narratives, with Ian Garry and others also in the mix. Prates's recent performance gives him credibility to challenge the lightweight champion in a cross-divisional superfight. The details are limited, but the implication is that Prates has earned the right to pursue bigger fights through his finishing ability.
Carlos Prates wasted little time after finishing Jack Della Maddalena, using the knockout victory to position himself as a cross-divisional challenger to welterweight champion Islam Makhachev.
Prates, known as "The Nightmare," carries a 24-7 record and sits fifth in the welterweight rankings at 32 years old. The Brazilian fighter out of Vale Top Team stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach — an imposing frame that contributes to his striking output of 3.77 significant strikes landed per minute at 55 percent accuracy. His finishing of Della Maddalena sharpened his argument considerably, given that Makhachev went the distance with the same opponent in a decision.
Della Maddalena, the fourth-ranked welterweight and 13th in the pound-for-pound standings, is no soft résumé padding. The 29-year-old Australian southpaw out of Scrappy MMA carries an 18-4 record and one of the division's more aggressive striking profiles, landing 5.57 significant strikes per minute. Stopping a fighter of that caliber by knockout gives Prates a tangible piece of leverage in any conversation about elite matchups.
Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion, holds a 28-1 record and is rated the top pound-for-pound fighter on the roster. The 34-year-old Russian operates out of Eagles MMA and blends efficient striking — 2.63 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy — with a relentless grappling game averaging 3.2 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes. His championship status and that level of all-around threat make any challenger's case a difficult one to press.
Why it matters
- Prates finishing Della Maddalena by knockout, where Makhachev went to a decision, gives him a direct narrative hook for a callout
- Ian Garry is also reportedly in the conversation, meaning Makhachev faces a growing crowd of welterweights building media cases
- A cross-divisional fight, if pursued, would carry significant divisional stakes for the 170-pound rankings
