Islam Makhachev’s next UFC welterweight title challenger revealed
In the leadup to Saturday’s UFC 330 main event between welterweight champion Islam Makhachev and challenger Ian Machado Garry, fight fans debated who the next title challenger would be.
On one side is red-hot Muay Thai striker Carlos Prates, and on the other is undefeated up-and-comer Michael Morales.
Makhachev topped Garry via unanimous decision, and after the bout he made it clear he wants to fight again, and soon. But who is next in line? Well, according to Prates, it’s him. At least that’s what he says UFC matchmaker Hunter Campbell told him.
“I’m the next for the title,” Prates recently told Ariel Helwani of Yahoo Sports. “[I’ve got] a new contract. The next one is for the title. [The contract is for] eight fights, I think.”
Despite Prates’ admission, Morales, who is riding a 19-fight unbeaten streak with recent wins over Sean Brady, Gilbert Burns, and Neil Magny, seems convinced the next title shot is actually his. But that’s not the impression Prates got from his conversation with Campbell.
“I think he’s going to fight, I don’t know, Belal Muhammad or some other fighter. But he needs to fight one more [before he gets a title shot],” Prates added.
Since joining the UFC after an impressive TKO win on “Dana White’s Contender Series,” Prates has won seven of his eight fights inside the Octagon. His lone loss came to Garry via unanimous decision last April.
All of Prates’ wins have come via knockout or TKO, and all of them have earned him a Performance of the Night bonus. Twenty-two of his 24 wins have come via finish (19 by knockout or TKO, three by submission).
If Prates is, indeed, next for Makhachev, it will be the toughest test of his professional career.
The 34-year-old Russian has won 29 of his 30 fights and is riding a 17-fight win streak that includes victories over former champions Charles Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski (twice), Dustin Poirier, Jack Della Maddalena, plus top contenders Arman Tsarukyan, Dan Hooker, and Garry.
