Carlos Prates argued that Brazilian fighters operate by a stricter code of personal conduct than their American or Caucasian counterparts, shaped by a harder upbringing on the street. He criticised the trash-talk tactics of fighters such as Khamzat Chimaev, citing Chimaev's comments about Sean Strickland's father as crossing a line. Prates also took aim at Colby Covington for remarks directed at Ian Garry's wife, saying such language would have severe real-world consequences where he comes from.
Carlos Prates has sparked debate after arguing that Brazilian fighters carry a different code of personal conduct than their American and Caucasian opponents — one forged, in his view, by a harder life on the street.
The welterweight contender, known as "The Nightmare," made the remarks in a recent interview. Prates, 32, holds a 24-7 record and currently sits fifth in the UFC welterweight rankings. The Brazilian southpaw out of Vale Top Team stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach and has built his reputation on sharp, high-accuracy striking, connecting on 55 percent of his significant attempts.
Central to his argument was pointed criticism of Khamzat Chimaev, the undefeated middleweight contender ranked first in his division and tenth pound-for-pound. Prates singled out comments Chimaev made referencing Sean Strickland's father, calling that kind of language a clear violation of the code he described. Chimaev, 32, carries a 15-1 record and represents one of the most complete physical threats in the sport, averaging 5.29 takedowns per fifteen minutes alongside a 60-percent striking accuracy.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion at 35 years old, holds a 31-7 record and is among the division's most active strikers, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute. While Prates did not direct criticism at Strickland himself, the champion's name was at the center of the conduct he was defending.
Prates also targeted Colby Covington over remarks Covington directed at Ian Garry's wife, arguing that such words would carry severe real-world consequences in the environment where he was raised.
Why it matters
- Prates is inserting himself into the broader middleweight and welterweight conversation through cultural commentary, not just in-cage performance
- His criticism of Chimaev, the top-ranked middleweight contender, draws added attention given Chimaev's proximity to a potential title shot against Strickland
- The remarks highlight an ongoing tension in MMA between accepted promotional trash talk and conduct fighters from different backgrounds consider genuinely personal
