Islam Makhachev reacted to Carlos Prates' recent knockout victory with a humorous social media comment calling him "Nutella cake" with a laughing emoji. The lightweight champion's response suggests playful mockery rather than serious acknowledgment of Prates as a threat. The brief interaction adds to the growing narrative around a potential future matchup between the two fighters. Makhachev's comment comes as Prates continues to build momentum in the welterweight division with devastating knockout performances.
Islam Makhachev took to social media following Carlos Prates' latest knockout victory, dismissing the Brazilian contender with a lighthearted jab — calling him "Nutella cake" and punctuating it with a laughing emoji. The welterweight champion's casual response signals he is not yet treating Prates as a serious threat, though the exchange has only amplified talk of a potential future meeting between the two.
Makhachev, 34, carries a 28-1 record and sits atop both the welterweight division and the pound-for-pound rankings. The Russian southpaw out of Eagles MMA is a technically complete fighter, landing 2.63 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 58 percent accuracy while also averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes — a combination that makes him one of the most well-rounded champions in the sport.
Prates, known as "The Nightmare," enters this growing narrative off the back of another emphatic finish. The 32-year-old Brazilian, ranked fifth in the welterweight division, holds a 24-7 record and fights out of Vale Top Team. At six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach, he generates serious offensive output, averaging 3.77 significant strikes per minute as a switch-stance striker. His finishing ability is built almost entirely on his hands and feet — he averages virtually no submission attempts and just 0.21 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a pure stand-and-bang threat.
Why it matters
- Prates' continued knockout momentum is forcing his name into the title conversation at welterweight
- Makhachev's public dismissal could add a psychological edge to any future negotiation or buildup
- The stylistic contrast is sharp — a grappling-dominant champion against a high-volume striker with an eight-inch reach advantage
- A ranked contender calling out the pound-for-pound number one always carries divisional weight, regardless of tone
