In a category of spectacular prospects, Carlos Prates shined the brightest.
The award for Rookie of the Yr in 2024 was a troublesome contest to guage with fighters reminiscent of Dakota Ditcheva and Zhang Mingyang vying for the crown, however the Preventing Nerds stole the present with three names this previous yr: Prates, Mauricio Ruffy, and Jean Silva.
Ultimately, going 4-0 with 4 knockouts – and 4 efficiency bonuses – in a span of 9 months made it too arduous to look away from Prates.
“It you got here from the longer term and informed me [in January] that I’d do all that, I wouldn’t imagine you,” Prates informed MMA Preventing. “It’s the results of all of the arduous work not solely from me, however my coaches, my groups, and folks which have been with me on this journey.”
A proud member of the Vale Prime Staff and Preventing Nerds, Prates joined the UFC after stopping Mitch Ramirez on Dana White’s Contender Collection in August 2023 and made quick work of Trevin Giles in his debut in February.
A nasty knee to the physique folded Charlie Radtke in beneath 5 minutes in June, and Li Jingliang lasted simply lengthy sufficient to see the ultimate minute of the second spherical.
How about Neil Magny, a seasoned veteran and perennial welterweight gatekeeper in a five-round principal occasion? 4 minutes and 50 seconds. Out chilly.
“I liked doing a principal occasion, it was so superior,” Prates mentioned. “I loved the entire course of each step of the best way, from the second I used to be informed the information to the minute I left the octagon with the victory. I felt like these weeks lasted three minutes. The yr was so good. I by no means anticipated issues to go that means, nevertheless it simply did and I danced to the track they had been enjoying.”
2024 may have been much more magical for Prates, who acquired a name from his supervisor saying the UFC was providing him the spot at UFC 310, changing injured champion Belal Muhammad towards Shavkat Rakhmonov on quick discover, however a damaged foot stopped him from leaping on the alternative.
Compelled to remain on the sidelines to heal, Prates now goals to evolve as a martial artist to face the elite of the division in 2025. Prates employed a wrestling coach to work full-time in Taubate, and is making an attempt to stop smoking “nevertheless it’s arduous,” he laughed.
“I’m taking good care of that,” Prates mentioned of his habit. “I’m 31, and I need to be in my finest form attainable, my finest cardio, my finest conditioning. My workforce and I are taking good care of that. You’ll see me twice as higher in 2025.”
Prates hoped to be a part of UFC 312 in Australia, however the Feb. 8 date is means too quickly for his foot. The welterweight expertise mentioned he’s heard rumors of a attainable UFC Struggle Evening card in Oceania in April, and a attainable UFC Brasilia present on Might 31 in Brazil, and likes the thought of being in a type of playing cards.
“But when the UFC desires to present me a struggle in April, I’d relatively wait and struggle in Might in Brazil,” Prates mentioned. “I’d like to struggle in Brazil. Who is aware of, possibly a principal occasion once more? I don’t know if I’m asking an excessive amount of [laughs].”
The UFC usually struggles convincing top-ranked fighters to fly to Brazil to face native stars in enemy territory, and Prates expects the identical for a possible struggle in 2025.
“Perhaps Geoff Neal would do a Struggle Evening right here in Brazil,” Prates mentioned. “I believe he’s the one one, actually. I don’t see [Stephen] Thompson on a Struggle Evening [in Brazil], or Ian Garry. I don’t see anybody ranked above me preventing on a Struggle Evening right here in Brazil. I plan on preventing a minimum of twice, possibly Geoff Neal and Ian Garry — or Jack Della Maddalena and another person that places me nearer to a shot on the title in 2026. When the time comes, I’ll be able to carry this belt to Brazil.”
