Following his finish of Jack Della Maddalena, Carlos Prates is now in position to call out Islam Makhachev, pointing out that he "was able to finish Maddalena" where Makhachev could not. The post notes that Makhachev now has multiple potential media-friendly opponents creating storylines. Ian Garry and Vicente Luque (Morales) are mentioned as other fighters in the conversation. The commentary suggests Prates' victory gives him legitimate grounds for challenging the lightweight champion. Details about specific callouts or responses are limited in the post.
Carlos Prates has inserted himself into the welterweight title conversation following his finish of Jack Della Maddalena, with commentary circulating that the Brazilian's victory gives him legitimate grounds to call out champion Islam Makhachev — pointedly noting that Prates did what Makhachev could not against the Australian contender.
Prates, known as "The Nightmare," carries a 24-7 record and sits fifth in the welterweight rankings at 32 years old. The Brazilian product of Vale Top Team stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach and fights out of a switch stance. He lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, and his finish of Della Maddalena adds notable weight to his championship case.
Della Maddalena, ranked fourth at welterweight and 13th in the pound-for-pound standings, entered the bout as one of the division's most dangerous strikers. The 29-year-old Australian out of Scrappy MMA holds an 18-4 record and produces a remarkable 5.57 significant strikes per minute. His loss to Prates represents a significant result given the caliber of opposition he represents.
Makhachev, the welterweight champion, is 28-1 and ranked first in the pound-for-pound rankings at 34 years old. The Russian southpaw from Eagles MMA is a suffocating grappler, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, with 58 percent striking accuracy. Ian Garry and Vicente Luque are also mentioned as fighters generating storylines around a potential Makhachev title defense.
Why it matters
- Prates' finish of a top-five welterweight strengthens his argument for a title shot ahead of other contenders
- Makhachev now faces several media-friendly matchup narratives, complicating the path to his next defense
- The stylistic contrast between Prates' striking volume and Makhachev's grappling-heavy approach sets up a compelling divisional storyline
