Welterweight contender Carlos Prates has finally addressed the growing speculation linking him to a potential fight with Conor McGregor, and he’s making one thing clear, nothing official has reached him yet.
Rumors exploded across the MMA world after McGregor posted, and quickly deleted, a message claiming he had accepted a fight against an unnamed opponent.
“It’s a no name up next for me possibly, folks,” McGregor wrote. “And as you know, idgaf. I ACCEPT. Send the contract, lads. CONOR MCGREGORS DEAL.”
That statement immediately sent fans into detective mode. Early speculation pointed toward Mauricio Ruffy, but attention soon shifted toward Carlos Prates as a possible comeback opponent.
Speaking on the MMA HOJE podcast, Carlos Prates dismissed the rumors and explained that discussions about fighting McGregor exist only among fans — not inside the UFC.
“People are just speculating,” Prates said. “But officially nothing has reached us yet. I just want to fight, man. Obviously, my main goal is a fight against Jack Della Maddalena, a guy that takes me to the belt. But we’re open to possibilities.”
Later, Prates doubled down on his stance while reacting to fans mentioning his name alongside McGregor in an Instagram post.
“A lot of you guys have been asking me about the Conor McGregor fight. I haven’t got anything from UFC yet. I’m really happy you guys are saying my name. Of course, it would be a huge honor for me to fight against him.”
Despite the excitement surrounding the potential matchup, Carlos Prates believes a fight against McGregor may not make competitive sense right now.
“I really want the fight that’s going to bring me the title shot. Jack Della Maddalena, Conor McGregor, to be honest that fight is hard to happen because Conor McGregor is five years without any fights.”
Carlos Prates’ confidence comes from momentum inside the Octagon. The Brazilian standout holds a 6-1 UFC record, with his only defeat coming against rising contender Ian Machado Garry.
He last competed in November 2025, delivering a highlight-reel knockout over former welterweight champion Leon Edwards, a performance that firmly pushed him into the division’s elite conversation.
With champion Islam Makhachev potentially reshaping the welterweight title picture, Carlos Prates sees himself closing in on championship contention.
While respectful toward McGregor’s legacy, Carlos Prates didn’t hold back when discussing how he believes a matchup would play out.
“Nothing against him but everybody knows, I know, he knows I would hurt him bad,” Prates said. “I would knock him out. I don’t think it’s the right way to make a comeback for a superstar like him. But if he wants a fight, I’m here, I’m ready.”
The Brazilian remains open to any opportunity the UFC presents but insists his primary focus stays on climbing toward gold.
“I’m waiting for the UFC to send me something, any name, any place. I’m just ready to fight. But of course, I want the title shot. So JDM, Conor McGregor, let’s work.”
As speculation continues around Conor McGregor’s long-awaited return, his first fight since 2021, UFC CEO Dana White has maintained that fans will hear an official announcement once a deal is finalized.
Until then, Carlos Prates remains locked in, confident, and ready for whoever stands across from him next.
Whether that opponent turns out to be McGregor or a fellow contender, Carlos Prates is positioning himself as one of the most dangerous names in the welterweight division and possibly one fight away from championship gold.
