Islam Makhachev responded to Carlos Prates' recent victory with a playful comment, calling him "Nutella cake" while acknowledging his performance with "Great work." The lighthearted jab appears to be Makhachev's reaction to Prates' continued success and potential future matchup between the two fighters. Details of the context behind the "Nutella cake" reference remain limited.
Islam Makhachev took a moment after Carlos Prates' latest victory to offer a playful dig at the Brazilian contender, referring to him as "Nutella cake" while also crediting him with a "Great work" acknowledgment.
Makhachev holds the welterweight championship with an imposing 28-1-0 record. The 34-year-old Russian, who trains out of Eagles MMA, is ranked at the top of the pound-for-pound standings and has built his dominance on a well-rounded game that includes 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and a striking accuracy of 58 percent. Fighting out of a southpaw stance, he lands 2.63 significant strikes per minute and adds consistent submission threat with 1.1 attempts per 15 minutes.
Prates, known as "The Nightmare," enters the conversation as the fifth-ranked welterweight with a record of 24-7-0. The 32-year-old Brazilian, representing Vale Top Team, is a switch-stance striker who generates real volume at 3.77 significant strikes per minute. Standing six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach advantage over most opponents, Prates presents a long, active threat on the feet, though his grappling involvement is minimal with just 0.21 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Makhachev's comment signals awareness of Prates as a divisional name worth monitoring
- At ranked fifth, Prates is positioned within range of a future title conversation
- A potential matchup would pit Makhachev's elite grappling and accuracy against Prates' heavy striking volume and reach
- The exchange, however lighthearted, keeps both fighters' names linked in the welterweight title picture
