Carlos Prates has some words for team Islam!!! The stakes in the welterweight division have skyrocketed with Carlos Prates vs Michael Morales being booked for the interim title in Toronto on the 30th of January. Many fans had thought Prates was next in line for Islam Makhachev after picking up an incredible three fight knock out streak and cementing himself at the top of the division. Makhachev revelaed he turned down the fight with Prates in January because Prates had already loss to Ian Garry and Islam just picked up a win over the Irish man in August. Many fans left with there head scratching wondering why would Islam turn down the fight, What do you think?
Welterweight champion Islam Makhachev says he passed on a fight with Carlos Prates in January, pointing to Prates' earlier loss to Ian Machado Garry, whom Makhachev himself beat in August.
The comments land as Prates prepares to meet Michael Morales for the interim welterweight title in Toronto on January 30. Many fans had viewed Prates as the natural next challenger for Makhachev after a three-fight knockout streak, and Makhachev's explanation has left some of them questioning his reasoning.
The champion
Makhachev, 35, is 29-1 and holds the welterweight title. The Russian fights out of Eagles MMA and is a southpaw who lands 2.27 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. His grappling remains the foundation of his game, with 3.22 takedowns per 15 minutes. His most recent recorded fight was a unanimous decision over Machado Garry at UFC 330 on August 15, a five-round title bout. Before that he beat Jack Della Maddalena by decision in November 2025 and submitted Renato Moicano in the first round in January 2025.
The challenger
Prates, 33, is 24-7 and ranked second at welterweight. The Brazilian from Vale Top Team stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach, and he lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. His recent run is the reason for the buzz: a first-round knockout of Geoff Neal in August 2025, a second-round stoppage of Leon Edwards in November 2025, and a third-round knockout of Della Maddalena on May 2, 2026.
The Garry link
Makhachev's logic runs through Machado Garry, now ranked first in the division at 17-2. Garry beat Prates by unanimous decision over five rounds on April 26, 2025, then lost to Makhachev by unanimous decision on August 15. The champion's reasoning is a straight line: he has already beaten the man who beat Prates.
Why it matters
- Prates and Morales are fighting for the interim title, so the winner will have a direct claim on a future champion bout.
- Prates' only recorded loss in this stretch came to Garry, a fighter Makhachev has already beaten over five rounds.
- The size gap is notable: Prates has a four-inch reach advantage over Makhachev, at 78 inches to 70.
- Prates' striking output of 3.77 per minute is well above Makhachev's 2.27, while Prates averages just 0.21 takedowns per 15 minutes against Makhachev's 3.22.
Carlos Prates vs Michael Morales
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