Carlos Prates stakes his claim to a UFC welterweight title shot
Carlos Prates joined Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo on a recent episode of the pair's Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru & Henry podcast, where he argued his case for a crack at welterweight gold.
Carlos Prates is one of the favorites to face reigning UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, and he is well aware of the fact. While others in the division are also gunning for the belt, the Brazilian power-puncher believes that he has nothing else to prove to earn a title fight against Makhachev.
Carlos Prates will only accept a championship bout
Carlos Prates is coming off a dominant third-round TKO of former welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena, who he faced in the main event of UFC Fight Night 275. It was his third knockout in a row, and 'JDM' marked the second consecutive ex-champion he's beaten, as he previously knocked Leon Edwards out at UFC 322. For this reason, Prates feels he is in prime position to be next in line for the title, even if Islam Makhachev defends his belt against Ian Machado Garry first. In fact, Prates said the following on the Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru & Henry podcast about facing the winner of the rumored bout (9:40):
"If Ian and Makhachev happens in August, I'm gonna fight the winner. I don't need to fight somebody and then go to the belt, but let's see, you know, like Makhachev don't fight too much. Sometimes he's got injuries or things like that, but I'm really confident that fight's gonna happen in August."
Garry has been the fighter most linked to a welterweight title fight against Makhachev, having embarked on a social media campaign calling the latter out. However, the UFC has yet to confirm any plans regarding Makhachev's next foe. While Prates is on an impressive three-fight win streak, Garry remains the only man to beat him in the UFC, having done so on short-notice at UFC on ESPN 66, where he outworked him to a unanimous decision win. Garry followed that win up with another unanimous decision win, this time against former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad at UFC Fight Night 265.
A future title fight with Garry, provided the Irishman beats Makhachev and that the fight is booked at all, will be of great interest to Prates, who will not only be eager to fight for the belt, but also to avenge his loss to 'The Future.'
