Carlos Prates' nickname 'The Nightmare' (Pesadelo in Portuguese) did not originate from his fighting style as commonly believed, but from a childhood television show character. The nickname came from a popular 2000s Brazilian children's show called 'Sítio do Picapau Amarelo' (Yellow Woodpecker Farm), which featured a character named Pesadelo (The Nightmare). Prates' friends thought he resembled this character and gave him the nickname, which later became his fighting moniker. The Brazilian fighter is currently on an upward trajectory in his MMA career. The comparison between Prates and the TV character was noted, though the author claims not to see the resemblance.
The origin of Carlos Prates' well-known nickname turns out to have nothing to do with the damage he inflicts inside the cage. According to a recent report, the Brazilian welterweight's moniker "The Nightmare" — Pesadelo in Portuguese — traces back not to his fighting style but to a character from a popular Brazilian children's television program.
The nickname reportedly came from "Sítio do Picapau Amarelo," a beloved 2000s Brazilian children's show whose title translates roughly to Yellow Woodpecker Farm. The show featured a character named Pesadelo, and Prates' friends believed he bore a resemblance to that character. The name stuck, eventually following him into professional MMA — though the author of the report noted they personally could not see the likeness.
Prates himself is currently ranked fifth in the UFC welterweight division. The 32-year-old Vale Top Team product stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach and carries a professional record of 24 wins and 7 losses. He fights out of a switch stance and has built a reputation as a dangerous striker, landing 3.77 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 55 percent. His takedown and submission output are minimal, reflecting a style built almost entirely around his hands and feet.
Why it matters
- The story adds a personal, cultural dimension to one of the welterweight division's rising names
- Prates sits at number five in the rankings, making his public profile increasingly relevant to divisional narratives
- The nickname's origin underscores how fighter monikers often carry backstories far removed from the sport itself
