Carlos
Prates believes former foe Ian Garry has
the best chance of dethroning Islam
Makhachev.
Prates believes Garry’s well-rounded skillset and elite movement
can make for a competitive fight against Makhachev. While Garry has
lost to an elite grappler in Shavkat
Rakhmonov, Prates believes a potential matchup against
Makhachev will be different. Competing with Garry for the next
welterweight title shot is Michael
Morales. However, Prates believes Makhachev will successfully
defend his title against Morales.
An Intriguing Challenge
“I think Ian Garry,” Prates told Red Corner MMA.”I think it’ll be
little bit different [than the Shavkat fight]. Because Ian Garry
knows how to move a lot, how to be really competitive in any place,
on the ground or stand up. So I think that fight would be
interesting.”
Makhachev dethroned Jack
Della Maddalena to the welterweight title at UFC 322
last November. Prates also entered the welterweight title picture
by knocking out Leon
Edwards on the same card. Meanwhile, Morales announced himself
as a contender by knocking out Sean Brady.
Garry joined the list a week later with a victory over Belal
Muhammad at
UFC Qatar.
While Morales and Garry continue to jostle for the next title shot,
Prates (23-7) is set headline UFC Perth
against Della Maddalena (18-3) on May 2. Meanwhile, Morales
recently claimed to have jumped ahead of Garry in the race for the
next welterweight gold bid.
Carlos
Prates believes Ian Garry has
the best chance of beating Islam
Makhachev 👀😲 pic.twitter.com/9ydXLhR45q— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA)
March 13, 2026