Carlos Prates quickly established himself as a fan favorite in the welterweight division, earning four bonus-winning knockouts in 2024 and emerging as a potential title contender in the UFC. His profile rose significantly leading up to his main event bout against Ian Machado Garry at UFC Kansas City on April 26.
“I don`t think the title shot is immediately next, but I believe a win here positions me very close to the belt,” Prates stated in an interview. “After this fight, especially after beating Ian Garry, I think one more fight – perhaps against someone like Sean Brady or Leon Edwards, or even the loser of the Belal Muhammad vs. Jack Della Maddalena fight – could put me right there for the title opportunity.”
Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena are scheduled to headline UFC 315 on May 10 to determine the next welterweight contender. The potential title picture could become even more complex if lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, a friend of Muhammad, decides to move up in weight to challenge the winner, particularly if it`s Muhammad.
However, a possible delay in challenging for UFC gold doesn`t seem to bother the Fighting Nerds welterweight.
“I`m in no rush,” Prates commented. “Whatever is meant to be will happen. I`m confident that I will become champion eventually, so it`s all good. On one hand, the anticipation can be challenging, but on the other, it`s beneficial. The longer it takes for me to reach the title fight, the more prepared and experienced I will be when that moment arrives.”
Prates was originally slated to face Geoff Neal at UFC 312, but Neal was forced to withdraw due to injury just days before the event. This unexpected change resulted in Prates being elevated to headline status at a UFC Fight Night show in Kansas City, facing a higher-ranked opponent in Garry. While Prates had fought in a main event capacity before against Magny in November, that bout took place inside the smaller UFC APEX facility in Las Vegas.
“It was wild,” Prates said regarding the changes. “I was definitely upset when I heard the news about Geoff Neal`s injury. However, the change worked out for the better for me because now I`m headlining, and it pays more because it`s a five-round fight. I was scheduled to fight the No. 10 ranked guy, and now I`m facing No. 7. I`ve fought on a pay-per-view card in Australia before, but this will be my first experience headlining in Kansas City.”
Garry represents Chute Boxe Diego Lima, a gym located relatively close to Prates` Fighting Nerds facility in São Paulo. Despite some online back-and-forth between the two fighters, Prates stated that there is no significant rivalry between the two local teams.
Once the cage door closes, Prates is focused on finishing the fight within the distance. Garry previously secured a decision win against decorated striker Michael Page, but Prates doesn`t believe their styles are particularly similar.
“I prefer knocking people out because it makes getting the bonus easier,” Prates explained. “But I also train jiu-jitsu and I`m a black belt, so if he makes any mistakes, I have threats from all angles. I`m not sure about Michael Page`s jiu-jitsu; I saw a grappling match he had, and it looked quite basic, even poor. Michael Page is an excellent striker, very difficult to fight because he`s awkward, but his jiu-jitsu is subpar.”
“I anticipate a clash of styles,” Prates continued. “Ian Garry tends to take fights the distance; he seems like he`s not in a hurry. I, on the other hand, like to knock people out and chase the bonus; I prefer to finish fights. It will be interesting to see how our styles match up. He will undoubtedly try to grapple me, there`s no question about that. It`s going to be a fight. He`ll likely pretend to trade strikes to close the distance and look for takedowns or my back. I`m completely ready to defend takedowns, trade punches, and just thoroughly beat him up.”
