Carlos Prates calls for welterweight title shot: ‘I should be next’

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MAY 02: Carlos Prates of Brazil reacts after a victory against Jack Della Maddalena of Australia in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at RAC Arena on May 02, 2026 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC)

With his impressive beatdown of Jack Della Maddalena at UFC Perth, Carlos Prates believes he’s done enough to earn a title shot against welterweight champ Islam Makhachev.

Prates pummeled his Australian opponent mercilessly in front of JDM’s hometown crowd, hitting him with big knees and using his length to punish every time Della Maddalena stepped into range. By the third round it felt like a mercy when he finally went down to the canvas, allowing Prates to earn a TKO finish (watch the highlights here).

Now Prates is setting his sights on the welterweight belt.

“I should be next,” Prates said at the UFC Perth post-fight press conference. “Nobody beat two former champs in a really good way. They never lost by knockout, and then I come there and make it look easy. All respect to them, they are tough. But against Leon [Edwards], against [Jack Della Maddalena], I made it look easy, and I’m next. Of course you have [Michael] Morales, but Morales didn’t fight a former champ. I fought two former champs, so I will be next.”

The UFC has been known to let fighters jump the line with impressive wins and Prates’ performance in Australia certainly qualifies. But at this point it seems like Islam Makhachev’s next fight is carved in stone. He’s Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 on August 15th.