Daniel Cormier has suggested that Carlos Prates should replace Ian Garry as Islam Makhachev's next opponent. Cormier argues that Prates's recent performance was far more impressive than Makhachev's win over Jack Della Maddalena. He noted that while Makhachev dominated and won his championship bout, Prates's victory looked significantly more dominant and suggested Della Maddalena was simply not on Prates's level. The post includes a poll asking whether Prates would be more interesting than Garry, with an alternative opinion noting Garry is the better option due to Prates's wrestling vulnerabilities. This represents ongoing debate about the next challenger for the lightweight champion.
Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier has thrown his weight behind Carlos Prates as the next challenger for lightweight king Islam Makhachev, arguing that Prates deserves the shot ahead of the previously discussed Ian Garry.
Makhachev, 34, enters that conversation off another dominant championship performance. The Russian champion carries a 28-1 record and holds the pound-for-pound top ranking in the sport. Fighting out of Eagles MMA, the southpaw is a relentless grappler who averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands strikes at a 58 percent accuracy clip — among the highest in the division.
His most recent opponent, Jack Della Maddalena, came in ranked fourth in the welterweight division with a 18-4 record. The 29-year-old Australian is one of the more prolific strikers in the sport, averaging 5.57 significant strikes per minute, but his takedown defense was always going to be tested against Makhachev's wrestling-heavy game.
Prates, nicknamed "The Nightmare," is the fighter Cormier wants to see step in next. The 32-year-old Brazilian holds a 24-7 record and is currently ranked fifth in the division. Standing six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach, Prates brings serious physical tools and lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. Cormier's argument centers on the impression Prates left in his own recent outing, which he characterized as more dominant than Makhachev's championship win and suggested Della Maddalena was simply not in Prates's class.
Not everyone agrees. A counterpoint raised in the debate points to Ian Garry as the stronger option, citing potential wrestling vulnerabilities in Prates's game as a reason to be cautious about his chances against the champion.
Why it matters
- Makhachev's next opponent remains undecided, keeping the lightweight title picture open
- Prates ranks fifth in the division and would enter as a significant underdog given Makhachev's grappling dominance
- Prates averages just 0.21 takedowns per 15 minutes and has zero submission attempts on record, a potential liability against Makhachev's wrestling
- The debate reflects genuine divisional uncertainty about which challenger represents the most compelling and competitive matchup
