Carlos Prates is gearing up for a pivotal showdown in Perth, and he's confident that a victory there will fast-track him to a welterweight title shot. The Brazilian striker, known for his relentless pressure and knockout power, has his sights set on the division's elite—but he's also keeping one eye on a potential shift in weight classes.
Prates believes Ian Machado Garry is the next logical challenger for lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, but if both he and Ilia Topuria emerge victorious in their upcoming bouts, the buzz around a Topuria-Makhachev superfight could grow. Speaking ahead of his fight on May 2, Prates addressed this possibility with a mix of ambition and humor.
"If Topuria moves up, I’ll move down," Prates joked in a recent interview with MMA Fighting. "I can do 155. Of course I can. Normally I’m around 85 or 84 kilos, so lightweight is doable. But I’m kidding—I don’t want to starve myself with dieting anymore. Let’s see what happens."
Prates, who has experience competing at featherweight and lightweight earlier in his career, is no stranger to the grind of cutting weight. That background gives him confidence that dropping down wouldn't be a problem if the opportunity arises. However, his immediate focus is on Saturday night, where he faces Jack Della Maddalena in a bout that could define his trajectory.
During the pre-fight face-offs, Prates’ height advantage over Della Maddalena was hard to miss. Still, the Brazilian expects his opponent to have the edge in raw strength once they lock horns inside the Octagon. "I've been the taller guy before—it's nothing new," Prates said, referencing his past fights across multiple weight divisions.
If Prates can notch a second straight win over a former champion this weekend, he’ll be knocking on the door of a title shot. But with Topuria’s potential move to lightweight creating ripple effects, Prates is ready to adapt—even if it means chasing gold in a different division. For now, all eyes are on Perth as 'The Nightmare' looks to make his dream a reality.