A massive title clash is on the horizon. 👀 Carlos Prates says his showdown with pound-for-pound star Islam Makhachev is officially locked in: “Yea [it's locked in]. I don't know when, but I will. I wish it's in Vegas in December, but I don't think so. Maybe January, something like that.”
Carlos Prates has declared that a lightweight title fight against pound-for-pound king Islam Makhachev is already set, with the Brazilian contender suggesting the bout could land sometime around January 2026.
Prates, nicknamed "The Nightmare," carries a 24-7 record and currently sits at number two in the lightweight divisional rankings at 33 years old. The Brazilian product of Vale Top Team stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach — physical tools that make him a legitimate threat on the feet. He produces 3.77 significant strikes per minute and connects at a 55 percent accuracy rate, making him one of the more active and dangerous strikers in the division. His takedown and submission output is minimal, signaling a fighter who prefers to settle matters standing up.
Makhachev, the reigning lightweight champion and the top-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the sport, owns an imposing 29-1 record at 34 years old. The Russian southpaw from Eagles MMA stands five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach and has built his dominance through a suffocating blend of wrestling and submissions. He averages 3.22 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands strikes at a remarkable 58 percent accuracy rate — elite efficiency for a champion who rarely lets opponents dictate terms.
Prates himself stopped short of naming a specific date, saying he hopes the fight takes place in Las Vegas in December but acknowledging January is more realistic.
Why it matters
- A win for Prates would make him Brazil's newest UFC champion and validate his rapid rise through the lightweight ranks
- Makhachev's wrestling-heavy style presents a stark stylistic contrast against a striker who averages less than one takedown attempt per 15 minutes
- With Prates ranked second in the division, the title shot carries full divisional legitimacy and could reshape the lightweight landscape heading into 2026
