Carlos Prates is confident that a victory over Jack Della Maddalena in the UFC Perth headliner on Saturday will lead to a welterweight title shot. “I think it’s the natural path. I just knocked out a former champion [Leon Edwards]. “If I can knock out another one, even more so fighting in his home country, I think the title shot will come,” Prates said in an interview with Brazilian journalist Laerte Viana. The Fighting Nerds standout made it clear that he is prepared for the best version of the former champion. “I’m coming prepared to face a guy who lost the belt and is coming full of hate and with the support of his fans to reclaim his belt and show that he’s alive in the division, ready to fight for five rounds in the toughest fight of his life,” Prates said. “I prepared for this, but I hope it won’t be. Hopefully I’ll land two punches in the first round and he’ll go with God.”

Prates, who has been victorious in six of his seven Octagon appearances, declined to divulge the details behind his fight strategy. “What I can say is that my coaches are very satisfied,” he said. “I’m a striker and he’s a boxer. I don’t believe he can take me down and even if he does, I’ll come back standing. If everything goes as planned, it will be another highlight for the UFC.”