Carlos Prates argued in a podcast interview that Brazilian fighters operate by a stricter code of conduct rooted in street experience, contrasting it with what he sees as a lack of real-world consequences for fighters like Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland. He specifically criticized Chimaev for bringing up Strickland's abusive father during their rivalry, calling that kind of trash talk off-limits. Prates also referenced remarks made by Colby Covington about Ian Garry's wife, saying he had witnessed people killed over far less in Brazil.
Brazilian welterweight contender Carlos Prates used a recent podcast appearance to draw a sharp cultural distinction between fighters from his home country and their American and Caucasian counterparts, arguing that Brazilians carry a street-forged code of conduct that shapes how far they are willing to take trash talk.
Prates, 32, holds a 24-7 record and is currently ranked fifth in the UFC welterweight division. Fighting out of Vale Top Team, the switch-stance striker has built his reputation on precise output, landing significant strikes at a 55 percent accuracy rate with a 78-inch reach that creates consistent problems for opponents.
The comments were directed in part at middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev, ranked first in the division at 15-1 and sitting tenth on the pound-for-pound list. Prates took particular issue with Chimaev bringing up the abusive father of Sean Strickland during the pair's public rivalry, calling that subject matter entirely off-limits under the code he described. Prates also referenced remarks Colby Covington made about Ian Garry's wife, stating he had personally witnessed people killed in Brazil over far less serious provocations.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion at 31-7, stands on the other side of the Chimaev feud Prates referenced. The 35-year-old American lands an exceptional 6.04 significant strikes per minute and carries a 76-inch reach, making him one of the division's most active pressure fighters.
Why it matters
- Prates' comments add a cultural dimension to ongoing tensions already building around the middleweight division's top storylines
- His criticism of Chimaev's trash talk tactics could signal personal friction that extends beyond the middleweight scene
- As a top-five welterweight, Prates carries enough standing that his remarks land with weight inside the locker room
