Daniel Cormier has proposed that Carlos Prates would be a better opponent for Islam Makhachev than Ian Garry. Cormier explained that while Makhachev defeated Jack Della Maddalena and won the championship belt, his performance wasn't as impressive as what Prates accomplished against Della Maddalena. Cormier described Prates' victory as "absolute madness" and suggested that Della Maddalena simply doesn't match Prates' level. The post includes a poll asking fans whether Prates would be more interesting than Garry as Makhachev's next opponent, with one option noting that Prates has vulnerabilities in wrestling.
Former UFC heavyweight champion and analyst Daniel Cormier has publicly called for Carlos Prates to step in as Islam Makhachev's next welterweight title challenger, arguing that Prates would make for a more compelling matchup than the currently scheduled Ian Garry.
Makhachev, 34, carries a 28-1 record and holds the welterweight championship, having moved up from lightweight to claim gold. The Russian southpaw, who trains out of Eagles MMA, is a consistent threat in every phase of the fight, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing 58 percent of his significant strikes. Cormier acknowledged Makhachev's win over Jack Della Maddalena but suggested the champion did not look as dominant as expected against the Australian contender.
Della Maddalena, ranked fourth in the welterweight division at 29 years old, holds an 18-4 record and is one of the most prolific strikers in the weight class, landing 5.57 significant strikes per minute. Despite that volume, Cormier argued the Australian simply was not operating at Prates' level.
Prates, nicknamed "The Nightmare," enters the conversation ranked fifth at welterweight with a 24-7 record. The 32-year-old Brazilian stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach and lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, making him a dangerous and awkward opponent on the feet. Cormier called Prates' performance against Della Maddalena "absolute madness" and used it as the basis for his argument that Prates deserves the title shot over Garry.
Why it matters
- Makhachev's move to welterweight puts the division's top contenders in direct competition for a marquee title opportunity
- Prates sits one spot below Della Maddalena in the rankings but, by Cormier's assessment, looked more impressive against the same opponent
- Cormier's own framing noted that Prates carries vulnerabilities in wrestling, which would play directly into Makhachev's core strengths
