Welterweight contender fears Islam Makhachev more than champion Belal Muhammad

170-pound prospect Carlos Prates douses Islam Makhachev's double-champ dreams at welterweight a tougher cookie than current champ Belal Muhammad.

Welterweight contender fears Islam Makhachev more than champion Belal Muhammad

Carlos Prates bills Islam Makhachev tougher than Belal Muhammad (Source: IMAGO/X)

The rumblings around UFC lightweight champ Islam Makhachev have been a big buzz in recent times. The Dagestani made easy work out of the competition and a historic number of 155-pound title defenses. But with another 145-pounder name entering the ranks, a presumable superfight is going stale. Makhachev has his own double-belt dreams at 170 pounds. One that welterweight Carlos Prates is very aware of; one that he douses more dangerous than current champ Belal Muhammad.

In a recent media outing with Red Corner MMA, Khabib Nurmagomedov doused that they have trained extensively with Belal Muhammad. Both are sharing Ali Abdelaziz for fight bookings, and Islam Makhachev has said he’s up for it. But would rather not face his friends for a second title gold. That unloads it all on other top contenders at welterweight; one of which Carlos Prates trots the lane.

It’s gonna be tough, it’s gonna be a hard fight because Islam is much better than Belal Muhammad. It’s much harder to beat Islam Makhachev than Belal. But when I fight for the belt, I don’t care who’s the champ — I’m gonna beat him and become welterweight champion.

Carlos Prates said in a recent media interview (🎥: mmatoday)

The Brazilian Team Fighting Nerd fighter has quirky habits. But his cardio has been by him so far. Prates, the UFC DWCS alum, has acquired four POTN post-fight bonuses over Trevin Giles, Charles Radtke, Li Jingliang, and Neil Magny. However, Islam Makhachev is another beast who can outbox, outwrestle, and outperform on cardio bars just as well. Makhachev’s camp also pegged him to have a bigger natural hydration and hence tout enough success against welterweights.

Carlos Prates is up for the challenge, though. Be it Belal Muhammad, Islam Makhachev, or anyone else, the 2024 season breakout fighter is ready for it. A bona fide surge in the 170-pound ranks, Prates has other concerns now. He faces Ian Machado Garry at the UFC Kansas City (UFC on ESPN 66) event headliner, in Kansas. Muhammad himself has his PPV title assignment as well, and the gold might end up elsewhere.

Jack Della Maddalena not a big challenge for 170-pound champ, per Carlos Prates

Belal Muhammad puts his welterweight gold up for a test against Jack Della Maddalena soon. They butt heads at the UFC 315 PPV event headliner, Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. JDM has his own ideas about being a title challenger and facing a champ with a ‘boring’ fight style. This marks Muhammad’s maiden 170-pound defense after winning the gold at the PPV July headliner at Co-op Live in Manchester.

Carlos Prates labels current welterweight title challenger not a hard-fight for Belal Muhammad
Carlos Prates labels current welterweight title challenger not a hard-fight for Belal Muhammad (Source: X)

‘Remember the Name’ does not undermine the challenge, but thinks he now has an even better standup to pose a bigger threat. Oddsmakers have been splitting hairs on it. Rising prospect Carlos Prates, though, has predicted a surefire Muhammad title win. To that end, he doesn’t consider the challenger all that gloated.

I think Belal’s going to win…Jack Della Maddalena looks like a good fighter, but he fought one time Kevin Holland and he won by split decision. Then he fought another guy, I don’t remember the name, he’s not even anymore in the UFC, and then he fought Gilbert Burns and he was losing the fight, and in the last minute he won the fight.

Carlos Prates to Home of Fight

Reeling off four finishes of his own, Prates said he did want to see the crisp striker in Della Maddalena win. However, the fighter thinks Muhammad would take the cake on this one. Per DraftKings Sportbooks, the welterweight guard has propped as a -205 favorite to stay put. Only time will tell if Prates’ prediction holds.

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