Ali Akbar Rosady
Carlos Prates, known as "The Nightmare," is singularly focused on his pivotal welterweight bout this Saturday against Jack Della Maddalena. However, beyond the immediate challenge, Prates has articulated a clear vision for his career trajectory: a direct path to the UFC welterweight championship. His stance has gained additional context with recent discussions surrounding current lightweight king Ilia Topuria’s potential move to the 170-pound division, a scenario Prates addressed with a mix of conviction and humor.
Prates is set to face Jack Della Maddalena in the main event of a significant UFC Fight Night in Perth, Australia. This contest is viewed by many as a de facto eliminator in the highly competitive welterweight division. Prates, coming off a decisive knockout victory over Bryan Battle at UFC 322 last November, believes that securing another prominent win over a top-ranked contender like Della Maddalena should unequivocally position him as the next challenger for the welterweight title.
"The title shot [is next]," Prates stated in an interview with MMA Fighting, articulating his belief in his compelling resume. "Because I’m going to beat two former champs in a row, you know? So yeah, nobody [else] did it." While Della Maddalena is a formidable and highly-ranked contender, he has not held a world title. Prates’s assertion underscores his confidence and the significant leap he perceives a victory over Della Maddalena would represent for his championship aspirations, building upon his prior win over Battle.
The welterweight division (170 pounds) is currently characterized by a dense field of contenders, all vying for a shot at the reigning champion, Leon Edwards. Among the prominent names frequently mentioned in title discussions are Belal Muhammad, who is widely considered the top contender, as well as rising stars such as Shavkat Rakhmonov and the aforementioned Jack Della Maddalena. Other seasoned fighters like Vicente Luque and Stephen Thompson also maintain a presence in the upper echelons of the rankings. The landscape creates a challenging environment for any fighter seeking to distinguish themselves and jump the queue.
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Prates’s declaration comes amidst a period of considerable fluidity in the welterweight title picture. While Islam Makhachev holds the lightweight title, the welterweight championship is currently held by Leon Edwards. The division has seen a consistent stream of top-tier talent emerge, creating a bottleneck at the top. Fighters like Shavkat Rakhmonov and Belal Muhammad have built impressive winning streaks, further complicating the path to a title shot. Prates’s ambition to bypass these established contenders highlights his self-belief and the high stakes of his upcoming bout.
Another former champion who has recently re-entered the title conversation is Kamaru Usman. Following his dominant decision victory over Joaquin Buckley at UFC Atlanta approximately a year ago, Usman, a former long-reigning welterweight king, expressed his desire to reclaim the belt. Prates was directly questioned about the possibility of facing Usman next, given the potential magnitude of such a bout. However, Prates quickly dismissed the idea, signaling his unwavering focus on the ultimate prize.
"No, [Kamaru Usman doesn’t make sense]," Prates asserted definitively. "It’s going to be a title shot. No chance. After that fight, I’m just going to fight for the belt." This firm rejection underscores Prates’s confidence in his trajectory and his belief that a win over Della Maddalena should be sufficient to warrant a championship opportunity, without the need for an additional eliminator against a decorated veteran like Usman. Usman, known as "The Nigerian Nightmare," held the welterweight title for over three years, defending it five times before losing it to Leon Edwards. His pedigree makes him a perpetual threat, yet Prates views him as an obstacle to be avoided in his immediate pursuit of gold.
The most unconventional and perhaps most intriguing name to emerge in the 170-pound title discussion is Ilia Topuria. "El Matador" currently holds the undisputed lightweight championship (155 pounds) and boasts an undefeated professional record, making a significant impact since joining the UFC. Topuria has never competed in the welterweight division within the UFC, but his ambition and recent success have fueled speculation about a potential move up in weight.
Topuria is scheduled to defend his lightweight title for the first time against interim champion Justin Gaethje in the main event of a major UFC card slated for June. Should Topuria emerge victorious, a significant portion of the MMA community believes he may choose to vacate his lightweight title and make the jump to welterweight. The proposed target for such a move, according to various reports and speculation, would be a challenge for the welterweight championship, currently held by Leon Edwards, or a high-profile contender in that division. The idea of a double-champion moving up a weight class has a precedent in the UFC, most notably with Conor McGregor, and generates significant commercial interest.
Prates was subsequently asked for his reaction to a scenario where Topuria, despite having no prior welterweight experience in the UFC, might bypass the established contenders, including Prates himself, to challenge for the welterweight title. His response, delivered with a wry grin, provided a moment of levity while subtly conveying his perspective on the competitive landscape.
"OK, so then I go to the lightweights, I’m going to fight to the lightweight belt," Prates quipped, suggesting a reciprocal move down to Topuria’s current division. "I can do 155. Of course, I can. Normally I have 85 kg, 84, so I can do lightweight. But I’m kidding." Prates, who typically walks around at a heavier weight than the 170-pound welterweight limit, acknowledged the physiological challenge of cutting to 155 pounds (approximately 84-85 kg translates to 185-187 lbs, a significant cut even to welterweight).
He quickly clarified the jest, adding, "I don’t want to do too much diet anymore. But, yeah, let’s see. I’m not thinking about that, but let’s see. If it’s happening, I’m going to wait." The humorous retort from Prates, while light-hearted, reflects a pragmatic understanding of the UFC’s commercial realities, where star power and crossover appeal can sometimes influence title shot decisions. It also subtly conveys his unwavering confidence in his own place within the welterweight hierarchy, even if he has to bide his time.
Prates’s immediate focus remains squarely on Jack Della Maddalena. Della Maddalena, an Australian standout, enters the bout with an impressive professional record and a strong fan following. A victory for Prates would not only extend his winning streak but would also undeniably elevate his standing in the welterweight division. The stakes for Saturday’s main event are exceptionally high, with Prates looking to solidify his case for a title shot and navigate the complex, ever-evolving landscape of the UFC welterweight division. The outcome will undoubtedly have significant ramifications for the contenders, the champion, and potentially, the future plans of lightweight king Ilia Topuria.
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