Do vision boards really work? Just ask Carlos Prates. The Brazilian striker (24-7) delivered a masterclass performance at UFC Perth last weekend, systematically dismantling former champion Jack Della Maddalena (18-4) until the gritty Australian crumbled under relentless punishment by the third round.

But what makes this victory truly remarkable is the story behind it. Prates recently revealed that he had been "manifesting" this win long before stepping into the Octagon. Scribbled across his mirror were affirmations that read: "I'm going to knock out Jack Della Maddalena" and "I'm going to become a champion." As translated by Championship Rounds, Prates shared on Instagram: "What happened on Saturday was already written a long time ago."

While vision boards and affirmations can provide powerful motivation, Prates knows that dreams only become reality through hard work and dedication. His performance against Maddalena was a testament to that—picking apart his opponent with precision striking and suffocating pressure until the Australian was left wincing in pain.

Now, "The Nightmare" has his sights set on the welterweight throne. Prates believes the only man to defeat him in the UFC—Ian Garry—is next in line to challenge Islam Makhachev for the title. And Prates is willing to wait, confident that he has earned his shot at gold. "I'm going to become a champion," he wrote. If his mirror scribblings are any indication, don't bet against him.