TLDR
- Carlos Prates believes Islam Makhachev views him as an easier fight than Ian Garry because Garry previously defeated him
- Prates claims he has improved since that loss and his ground defense can trouble Makhachev’s wrestling-heavy style
- Leon Edwards and Jack Della Maddalena both took Prates down but couldn’t keep him controlled on the mat
- Prates recently defeated Della Maddalena by third-round TKO, strengthening his welterweight title contention
- The Brazilian fighter is willing to serve as backup for the rumored Makhachev vs Garry title fight expected in August
Sources: timesofindia.indiatimes.com | mmasucka.com | verdictmma.com
Brazilian UFC welterweight contender Carlos Prates has responded to recent comments from champion Islam Makhachev about a possible future matchup. Prates believes the Dagestani fighter sees him as an easier opponent than Ian Machado Garry.
During an appearance on Daniel Cormier’s YouTube channel, Prates explained why he thinks Makhachev made positive comments about fighting him. “I think he say that just because he thinks that I’m an easier fight than Ian Garry,” Prates stated.
The 32-year-old Brazilian pointed to his previous loss to Garry as a possible reason for this perception. He acknowledged that several top fighters have successfully taken him down during fights.
“Leon Edwards took me down. ‘JDM’ took me down… Ian Garry took me down one time. Maybe he thinks it’s going to be easy,” Prates said.
However, the Brazilian contender insists that he has evolved significantly since those fights. He emphasized that none of his opponents were able to keep him controlled on the ground for extended periods.
Carlos Prates reveals he is training to serve as the backup for Islam Makhachev vs Ian Garry on August 15
“I’m going to start a fight camp for August 15 because if something happens to Makhachev or Ian, they’re going to call me, and I’ll be ready.”
(via eurosportufc ) pic.twitter.com/vxsKSoSyCU
— FREAK.MMA (@FREAKMMA1) June 4, 2026
Prates Confident in Ground Defense Against Makhachev’s Wrestling
Prates explained that when he fought Edwards, Della Maddalena, and Garry, he wasn’t focused on defending takedowns. He noted that as a BJJ black belt, these opponents likely weren’t trying to submit him but simply wanted to hold him down.
Against Makhachev, who is widely considered one of the best grapplers in MMA, Prates plans to be more proactive in his takedown defense. “Makhachev is really good on grappling, really good. But until now, everybody who took me down, I got up,” he stated.
The Brazilian fighter dismissed the notion that Makhachev possesses superhuman abilities. “He’s not from another planet. He’s human, like us,” Prates said.
Prates comes into this discussion with momentum after defeating Jack Della Maddalena by third-round TKO in his most recent fight. That victory pushed him higher in the welterweight rankings and increased speculation about a potential title shot.
The Brazilian is currently on a three-fight winning streak in the UFC. Many observers believe he could receive a title opportunity sooner rather than later.
Willing to Serve as Backup Fighter for Title Fight
While Makhachev is expected to defend his welterweight title against Ian Garry at UFC 330 on August 15, 2026, the matchup has not been officially announced. The UFC champion recently suggested that Prates might be his best challenge in the division right now.
When asked by Cormier if he would serve as a backup fighter for the rumored Makhachev versus Garry title fight, Prates expressed his willingness. “No, I can do this. I can do this,” he responded.
Prates confirmed that he has heard Makhachev will fight Garry first, and he would then face the winner for the welterweight championship. His openness to being the backup fighter shows his readiness to step in if either fighter withdraws due to injury or other reasons.
Meanwhile, Garry has been training in Georgia to prepare specifically for Makhachev’s wrestling-heavy style. The Irish fighter recently stated on Instagram that “there is no one in the world who learns faster than me.”
Makhachev has dismissed Garry’s training efforts, saying the Irishman is “wasting his time” and that a few months of wrestling preparation won’t make a difference against his lifetime of grappling experience. The champion is expected to return to action after Ramadan, potentially in May or June 2026.
