Carlos Prates isn’t asking for a title shot, he’s demanding it, and after his latest performance, it’s hard to ignore him.
Coming off a dominant third-round TKO over Jack Della Maddalena at UFC Perth, Carlos Prates believes he has done more than enough to earn a crack at the UFC welterweight belt. And to be fair, his resume is starting to back up that confidence.
“I should be next,” Prates said after the fight. “Nobody beats two former champs like that. They don’t knock them out and make it look easy. I respect them, they are tough. But against Leon, against ‘JDM,’ I made it look easy. I’m the next.”
That statement didn’t come out of nowhere. Prates is now riding a three-fight win streak, and he didn’t just win—he finished every opponent. That run includes knockouts over Geoff Neal and former champion Leon Edwards, before dismantling Maddalena in his latest outing.
What makes this surge even more impressive is the bounce-back factor. Not long ago, Prates saw his 11-fight win streak snapped by Ian Machado Garry. Instead of fading, he came back sharper, more aggressive, and far more dangerous.
Now, with the UFC yet to announce the first title defense for Islam Makhachev at welterweight, the conversation is wide open. Garry has been vocal about getting the next shot, but Prates is making it clear that his recent run carries more weight.
“I beat former champions,” Prates added. “That’s something nobody else is doing right now. So I will be next.”
Beyond the talk, his performances tell the real story. Seven wins in the UFC, seven knockouts, and a growing reputation as one of the most dangerous finishers in the division. That kind of momentum is hard to deny, especially in a division that thrives on activity and statement wins.
With Maddalena previously sitting at No. 2 in the rankings, Prates is expected to take a major leap when the updated rankings drop. And if that happens, the push for a title shot won’t just be noise—it’ll be a legitimate case.
Whether the UFC matches him up with Makhachev next or builds toward a rematch with Garry, one thing is clear: Carlos Prates has forced his way into the title conversation, and he’s not slowing down anytime soon.
