Carlos Prates signs 8-fight UFC deal, told he's next in line for Islam title shot

Carlos Prates has signed a new eight-fight deal with the UFC and says he has been told he is next in line for a lightweight title shot against Islam, the Brazilian fighter announced on August 18, 2026.

Prates, known as "The Nightmare," made the news public himself with a direct statement: he has a new contract, he is next for the title, and he is ready. The 33-year-old from Brazil carries a professional record of 24 wins and 7 losses and is currently ranked second in the welterweight division under the UFC's rankings. He trains out of Vale Top Team and fights out of a switch stance, standing 185 centimeters tall with a reach of 198 centimeters. A dangerous striker, Prates lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate — figures that place him among the more precise volume strikers in his weight class.

Why it matters

• An eight-fight contract signals the UFC sees Prates as a long-term fixture near the top of the division.
• His claim of a promised title shot adds significant weight to his standing at number two in the rankings.
• Prates's striking-heavy style — with just 0.21 takedowns per 15 minutes — sets up a potentially explosive title contest built almost entirely on the feet.
• The announcement adds urgency to the lightweight title picture and raises questions about where the current champion's next defense lands.

One note of context worth flagging: Prates is listed within the welterweight division in fighter records, yet his stated title shot targets the lightweight championship. That detail comes directly from his own announcement and may reflect a divisional move or a data discrepancy — either way, the claim originates with Prates himself. Whether the UFC formally schedules the bout remains to be seen, but with a fresh long-term contract in hand and a public promise of a title shot, Prates appears positioned to make his case at the top of the lightweight pecking order.