Daniel Cormier has proposed that Carlos Prates would be a more compelling opponent for Islam Makhachev than Ian Garry. Cormier cited Prates' recent performance as far more impressive than Makhachev's victory over Jack Della Maddalena, suggesting that Della Maddalena appeared outmatched against Prates in a way he wasn't against Makhachev. The commentary implies that while Makhachev won the belt against Della Maddalena, Prates displayed a more dominant showing against the same opponent. Cormier's statement has sparked debate about which matchup would be more competitive and interesting for fans. The post invites audience reaction to compare Prates versus Garry as potential challengers.
Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier has entered the conversation around Islam Makhachev's next title defense, publicly advocating for Carlos Prates as a more compelling challenger than Ian Garry.
Makhachev, now competing at welterweight, holds the division's title and sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings with a record of 28-1. The 34-year-old Russian, who trains out of Eagles MMA, is a technically complete fighter who averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 58 percent of his significant strikes — one of the higher accuracy figures in the sport.
At the center of Cormier's argument is the common opponent test. Jack Della Maddalena, ranked fourth in the welterweight division at 18-4, faced both Makhachev and Prates. The 29-year-old Australian is a high-volume striker, averaging a remarkable 5.57 significant strikes per minute. Cormier suggested, however, that Della Maddalena looked more thoroughly outclassed when he stepped in with Prates than he did against the champion.
Prates, nicknamed "The Nightmare," carries a 24-7 record and sits fifth in the welterweight rankings. The 32-year-old Brazilian out of Vale Top Team stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach — a significant frame for the division — and lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. He does not attempt many takedowns or submissions, making him a pure striking threat.
Why it matters
- Makhachev's next welterweight title defense has no official opponent, leaving room for legitimate contender debate
- Prates and Garry both sit in the top five of the division, meaning either fight carries serious ranking implications
- Prates' size, reach, and striking output present a stylistically distinct challenge from Garry's more technical approach
- The Della Maddalena shared-opponent argument gives the Prates case a concrete, performance-based foundation
