Daniel Cormier: 'Nobody would complain' if Carlos Prates got next title shot

Daniel Cormier was blown away by the elite level of fighting Carlos Prates displayed against Jack Della Maddalena in the UFC Fight Night 275 main event, and it has him rethinking the entire welterweight title picture.

UFC Hall of Famer and color commentator Cormier already considered Prates (24-7 MMA, 7-1 UFC) to be one of the best at 170 pounds following his knockout of former champ Leon Edwards at UFC 322 in November. But then he followed it up with Saturday's showing against Jack Della Maddalena (18-4 MMA, 8-2 UFC), where he delivered a complete destruction en route to a third-round TKO.

Cormier said the performance put everyone on notice.

"Carlos Prates has now put himself on the short-list of fighters who could potentially challenge the champion Islam Makhachev," Cormier said on his YouTube channel. "He was already close (before that performance). You beat the former champion in the way that he beat Della Maddalena – because that was bad. Honestly, when I was watching that from afar I was like, 'How?' Because I've never seen Jack just get beat on like that. I thought Jack Della Maddalena had a style that would create some real issues for Prates. No issues at all for Carlos – his punching power, his knees, his ability to go first and his calm demeanor."

In most circumstances, beating back-to-back ex-champions in the manner Prates did would elevate him directly into a title fight. It still might, but he may have to wait. The rumor mill has Ian Machado Garry (17-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) next challenging current champ Makhachev (28-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) for gold at UFC 330 on Aug. 15, but nothing has been announced by the organization.

Given Machado Garry is the only person to beat Prates in the UFC, as he did by unanimous decision in April 2025, it would make sense that the Irishman would go first. Cormier said Machado Garry should be hoping he has something signed, though, because the door is now open for the UFC to shuffle plans if not.