SÃO PAULO — Carlos Prates called for a shot at the UFC welterweight title after knocking out ex-champion Leon Edwards at Madison Square Garden in November, but knows competition to take on Islam Makhachev is tough.
If forced to take another step first, “The Nightmare” has an opponent in mind: Jack Della Maddalena.
Prates sat down with MMA Fighting during a Corinthians game on Nov. 30—after a tour of the stadium and meeting the players before an exciting match with Botafogo for the Brasileirão—and explained why he wants to face Maddalena next.
“I believe that if Kamaru Usman fights for the belt, I’ll need another fight,” Prates said. “If it’s not Kamaru, I think it will be me.”
Usman has only won once since 2021, beating Joaquin Buckley to rebound from consecutive losses to Khamzat Chimaev and Edwards (twice). Makhachev recently claimed the title with a dominant victory over Della Maddalena.
Prates is still hopeful he could face Makhachev for UFC gold in 2026, but is aware “there’s a lot involved” when it’s time for the company to make calls like that.
“There’s what Makhachev wants, [he and Usman] have the same management,” Prates said. “Usman is already one of the greatest of all-time in the division — for me, the greatest. So whatever happens, it’s fine. I believe if I don’t get the title fight next, I’ll get one more fight then go.”
Prates doesn’t expect Makhachev vs. Usman to be “easy”, but “I don’t think Usman wins.” Either way, Prates remains confident he will compete for the 170-pound title in 2026.
“We’re thinking April, a numbered card in Las Vegas,” Prates said of “a good date” for his clash with Della Maddalena. “He just lost the belt, so we’d beat him and for sure go straight to the title. That’s what we want. … By mid-next year, we’re there [for the belt].”
Prates beat Edwards at UFC 322 to improve to 6-1 in the promotion, with all wins coming by way of knockout and earning him an extra $50,000 in performance bonuses, and graded his victory nine out of 10. His mother Regina wasn’t entirely happy with how the match unfolded, though.
“She was confident about the fight, but she didn’t like that he took my back,” Prates said. “When we talked, I texted her thanking her for everything like I always do, and she said, ‘Cool, thanks, but I didn’t like him taking your back, no.’”
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