UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev posted a humorous response to Carlos Prates' recent victory, calling him 'Nutella cake' in what appears to be a playful jab. The comment suggests Makhachev is paying attention to potential future opponents in the welterweight division. Prates has been generating significant buzz with his knockout streak and could be positioning himself as a future challenger. The post indicates growing interest in a potential matchup between the two fighters.
UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev took to social media following Carlos Prates' latest victory, posting a lighthearted message that referred to the Brazilian knockout artist as "Nutella cake" — a playful acknowledgment that the champion is keeping a close eye on the division's rising contenders.
Makhachev, 34, holds a 28-1 record and sits atop the welterweight division as champion, currently ranked number one in the pound-for-pound standings. The Russian, who trains out of Eagles MMA, is a technically precise southpaw standing five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach. He lands 2.63 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 58 percent accuracy, and adds consistent wrestling pressure with 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Prates, known as "The Nightmare," is ranked fifth in the welterweight division and has been building serious momentum. The 32-year-old Brazilian out of Vale Top Team carries a 24-7 record and brings a noticeably different physical profile to the table — standing six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach and a switch stance. He is one of the division's most active strikers, averaging 3.77 significant strikes per minute, and his knockout streak has turned heads throughout the 170-pound weight class.
Why it matters
- Makhachev's public callout, even in jest, signals he is aware of Prates as a credible threat in the division.
- At 6-1 with a 78-inch reach, Prates presents a significant size and length challenge for any welterweight, including the champion.
- The style contrast — Makhachev's grappling-heavy, high-accuracy approach versus Prates' high-volume striking — makes a potential future matchup a compelling stylistic puzzle.
- Prates' fifth-place divisional ranking puts him within realistic title contention range should he continue his current run.
