Carlos Prates really stopped his pad session to crack open a Heineken beer. 😂🍺🥊 The UFC welterweight contender has built a reputation for doing things his own way, and this latest training clip is peak “The Nightmare.” 😭💀 Prates has openly embraced an unconventional lifestyle outside the Octagon, even becoming known for his beer-and-cigarette habits despite the demands of being an elite fighter. He has also explained that he cuts back significantly when preparing seriously for a fight. 🥊🔥 And with a potential title fight against Islam Makhachev looming, things are about to get VERY serious. Could Carlos Prates actually become UFC champion while living this differently from most fighters? 🍺👀 via @thenightmare_170 #ufc #mma #carlosprates #beerlover #heineken
Carlos Prates stopped a pad session mid-training to open a Heineken, the latest example of the unconventional approach that has made the UFC welterweight contender one of the sport's more talked-about personalities. The moment came as Prates is linked to a potential title fight against Islam Makhachev.
Prates has built a reputation for living by his own rules away from the cage. He has openly embraced a beer-and-cigarette lifestyle despite the demands of elite competition, and he has said he cuts back significantly when he is preparing seriously for a fight.
The 33-year-old Brazilian, who trains out of Vale Top Team, is 24-7-0 and ranked number two at welterweight. Nicknamed "The Nightmare," Prates is a switch-stance striker who stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach. His output backs up the reputation: he lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. He rarely looks for takedowns, averaging just 0.21 per 15 minutes.
Makhachev, the welterweight champion, is 29-1-0 and 34 years old. The Russian fights out of Eagles MMA and stands five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach, giving up significant length to Prates. A southpaw, he lands 2.27 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. His grappling is the engine of his game, with 3.22 takedowns and 0.9 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Prates sits second in the welterweight rankings, putting him squarely in the conversation for a shot at the belt.
- The matchup is a stark style contrast: Prates' volume striking and 198 cm reach against Makhachev's takedown-heavy, grappling-led approach.
- Prates has said he tightens up his habits when a fight camp gets serious, and a title bout against Makhachev would demand exactly that.
The beer break is lighthearted, but the stakes around Prates are not. A title opportunity would test whether his looser lifestyle can coexist with a full-scale championship camp.
