Carlos Prates is trying to take everything Islam Makhachev worked for.
Earlier this month, Prates picked up his third consecutive knockout win, finishing former welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena in the third round at UFC Perth. In total, that makes seven wins, with seven stoppages, and seven Performance bonuses in eight UFC fights, and puts Prates on the short list for the next welterweight title shot. “The Nightmare” even said as much following his victory over “JDM,” declaring that his next fight would
be for the title against the winner of Islam Makhachev and Ian Machado Garry.
Now, a few weeks removed from his big win, Prates still believes that, and even hinted at having a good reason to believe it.
“I think Ian’s gonna fight Makhachev, and I’m going to fight the winner,” Prates told Yahoo Sports.
“… I talked with them, with the UFC after my fight. Of course, we talked some things I cannot say, but I really think I will be the next. It doesn’t matter who gets the win between Islam and Ian Garry, I will be the next.”
Though a fight between Makhachev and Garry has been rumored for weeks, at this time, the bout has still not been made official, though rumor suggests the UFC may be looking at the August numbered event. But even if all of that ends up being true, that still creates a big problem for Prates: When would he get his title shot?
Over the past few years, Makhachev has fought roughly every eight months, meaning if Prates really is going to wait for a title shot, he could be on the shelf for a full year. For Prates, a fighter who has fought eight times in two and a half years, that’s a long layoff. But one he thinks could be beneficial.
“It’s good for me,” Prates said. “Get my injuries better, train a little bit more, improve, grow up as a fighter. If it’s long to fight for the belt, I will be more well-prepared.”
There’s one more obstacle for Prates and his title aspirations: Ilia Topuria. The lightweight champion has been angling for a fight with Makhachev for over a year, and should he defeat Justin Gaethje at UFC White House, many believe Topuria will jump the line at welterweight to finally make that fight happen. But Prates doesn’t agree. Prates believes Topuria will stay at 155 to fight Arman Tsarukyan, and then, once he has the belt, he’ll be happy to give Topuria the chance at the welterweight title.
“No. I think he’s going to still fight at 155,” Prates said. “I think so. …
“I’m thinking about to get the belt and then asking Topuria if he wants to come to 170. Let’s do this. Let’s dance!”
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FINAL THOUGHTS
Fine sport we’ve got here. One of the most exciting fighters in the world hopes to sit out for a year waiting on a possible title shot, then, if he wins, wants to call out a man roughly half his size.
UFC really has this sport moving like a well-oiled machine.
EXIT POLL
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