Carlos Prates made a loud statement in the UFC Perth main event this Saturday, stopping Jack Della Maddalena by third-round knockout and immediately calling for a welterweight title shot.
Prates, who improved his UFC record to 7-1 with seven knockouts and seven post-fight bonuses, argued that his resume now warrants a crack at gold. “I should be next,” he said after the win.
“Nobody beats two former champs on that really good way. They never do by knockout and then I come there and make it look easy. I respect to them, they are tough. But against Leon, against ‘JDM,’ I make it look like easy. And I’m the next. Nobody did it. Of course you have Morales, but Morales didn’t fight a former champ. I beat you former champs. So I will be the next,” Prates added.
Prates also addressed questions about his readiness to face a strong wrestler such as Islam Makhachev, saying his performance against Maddalena showed he is prepared. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Prates embraced the grappling exchanges. “Ah, you now you become a wrestler and take me down? I’m not scared about takedowns. I’m not scared. I’m BJJ black belt, you know?”
Throughout the bout, Prates was already thinking about adding another bonus to his collection. “I was thinking about the bonus,” he said, later adding, “OK, now let’s bring the fight to the way it will give me the bonus.”
The UFC has not yet announced Islam Makhachev’s next opponent, while Prates continues to push for his own shot at the welterweight title.
