What Would possibly Have Been
Within the wake of the epic collision between welterweight contenders Ian Machado Garry and Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 final Saturday, one other rising star within the UFC’s 170lb rankings has revealed that he was supplied the chance to switch Rakhmonov’s unique opponent, Belal Muhammad.
Carlos Prates has appeared nothing in need of sensational since his introduction to UFC followers as a contestant on Dana White’s Contender Sequence in August of 2023. After knocking out Mitch Ramirez to earn a UFC contract, “The Nightmare” has rattled off 4 succesive victories contained in the Ocragon with all of them coming inside the gap.
The Brazilian’s distinctive placing prowess and harmful energy has helped him gatecrash the welterweight rankings following his first-round knockout win over prennial gatekeeper Neil Magny final month, and he revealed this week that he was one of many names the UFC known as after “Bear in mind the Identify” needed to withdraw from his first title protection in opposition to Rakhmonov.
The 31-year-old Vale Prime Group consultant instructed Submission Radio {that a} foot harm picked up in coaching meant he was pressured to show down the golden alternative.
“Since my final struggle once I fought Neil Magny” defined the Sao Paulo native, “once I stepped (foot) in Brazil, actually once I stepped (foot again) in Brazil (at) the airport, they known as me and requested me to struggle Shavkat. First, they requested me to struggle Vicente Luque, after which like a number of hours after they requested me to struggle Shavkat, and I used to be actually excited to go (to UFC 310) however my foot was so huge, ?
“Then my physician simply requested me to do some exams and issues like that after which we noticed my foot was damaged. Even then I needed to struggle however the UFC mentioned, ‘No, you higher take a while and relaxation and care for your well being, your foot after which come again subsequent 12 months”.
What Subsequent For “The Nightmare?”
All 4 of Prates’ UFC appearances have are available in 2024 and he has impressed by stopping Trevin Giles, Charles Radtke, Li Jingliang and Magny in devastating vogue. Together with his final two victories particularly having come in opposition to such skilled opponents, there have been requires the #13-ranked Brazilian to be thrust into the combination with a few of the prime contenders within the welterweight division.
Prates is definitely eager to get his fingers on one or two of the massive names at 170lbs and supplied a few attention-grabbing strategies as to who he ought to face when he returns from harm.
“It’s onerous to say” he says, “as a result of Jack Della Maddalena from Australia would (put me in) the highest 5 (if I) win the struggle in opposition to him. But in addition, a struggle in opposition to Jorge Masvidal can be superb, ? He’s a legend, he’s a extremely powerful man. (It) can be very nice to get to Miami and struggle him so…I don’t know. Me and my supervisor are speaking and seeing what are (the) UFC going to carry to us after which we’re going to decide on the most suitable choice”.
One other fighter who was supplied the chance to face Shavkat Rakhmonov this previous weekend is Kamaru Usman. The previous welterweight champion turned down the struggle attributable to it coming at such quick discover.
“I don’t know” replied Prates when requested if it’s potential that he would possibly face Usman subsequent. “It will be cool preventing him, however not on my subsequent struggle. I feel on the subsequent struggle, I don’t know why however I’m pondering he’s going to struggle Jack Della Maddalena. I don’t know why however…I don’t know if Kamaru is de facto desirous to struggle in Australia as a result of it’s onerous to struggle in Australia bro due to the time (distinction), ?
“You go there (and) you struggle within the morning so I don’t know. However I don’t suppose…I actually need (to struggle JDM) however I feel Kamaru goes to struggle Della Maddalena. I don’t know if will probably be in Australia however I feel they’re going to struggle”.
