“Let’s dance”- Carlos Prates confident of Islam Makhachev’s UFC welterweight title, calls out Ilia Topuria for a bout after KO win at UFC Perth

Carlos Prates believes he has done enough to earn the next UFC welterweight title shot after his latest knockout victory at UFC Perth. The Brazilian fighter stopped former champion Jack Della Maddalena in the third round earlier this month and extended his incredible UFC run. Prates now has seven wins, seven finishes, and seven performance bonuses from eight fights inside the promotion. His dominant form has quickly pushed him into the title picture at 170 pounds.

Following the win, Prates openly spoke about his future and suggested that the UFC could already have plans for him. The rising contender said he expects to challenge the winner of the rumored welterweight title fight between Islam Makhachev and Ian Machado Garry. Although the UFC has not officially confirmed that matchup, reports continue to link the fight to a major event later this year. Prates now appears ready to wait patiently for his opportunity to compete for championship gold.

Carlos Prates says he is ready to wait for his UFC title opportunity

Carlos Prates recently told Ariel Helwani that he remains highly confident about getting the next shot at the welterweight title. According to the Brazilian, he had important discussions with UFC officials after his victory over Jack Della Maddalena. While he did not reveal full details, he hinted that those conversations gave him strong belief that he is next in line for the belt.

The dangerous striker said he expects Islam Makhachev and Ian Machado Garry to fight first, and he plans to face the winner afterward. Prates added that the result of that fight does not matter to him because he feels prepared to compete against either man for the championship.

There is still uncertainty around the timeline for his title opportunity. Makhachev has usually fought only once every several months in recent years. That could force Prates to stay inactive for a long period if he waits for the title fight. However, the Brazilian believes the extra time could actually help him improve as a fighter. He explained that the break would allow him to recover from injuries, sharpen his skills in training camp, and become even stronger before competing for the belt.

Another possible obstacle in the division is lightweight champion Ilia Topuria. Many fans believe Topuria could move up to welterweight if he defeats Justin Gaethje in his next fight. But Prates does not expect that to happen immediately. He believes Topuria will continue fighting at lightweight first, possibly against Arman Tsarukyan.

Prates also made it clear that he would welcome a future fight against Topuria if both eventually become champions. The Brazilian confidently stated that once he captures the welterweight belt, he would gladly invite Topuria to move up and challenge him at 170 pounds.




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