‘GOAT’ Islam Makhachev Eyed by UFC Perth Headliner Carlos Prates After JDM Bout

Carlos Prates named Islam Makhachev as his current GOAT as he guns for a fight with him after handling his business at UFC Perth.

‘GOAT’ Islam Makhachev Eyed by UFC Perth Headliner Carlos Prates After JDM Bout

Carlos Prates labels Islam Makhachev as the GOAT right now [via UFC.com and MMAFighting]

In Short
  • Carlos Prates aims to fight Islam Makhachev after his upcoming bout against Jack Della Maddalena.
  • Prates is on a 2-fight winning streak and considers his next fight the most important of his career.
  • Both Prates' mother and daughter will be present at UFC Perth to support him during the fight.

The UFC’s greatest fighter of all time is a debate that divides the fanbase. Many names have been thrown around over the years without the MMA community ever reaching a consensus. However, Carlos Prates has not only made his pick in Islam Makhachev, but also wants to fight him.

‘The Nightmare’ is currently on a 2-fight winning streak with knockouts in both those fights. He will try to extend it to 3 this Saturday in Perth. He is set to face former champion, Jack Della Maddalena, in a 5-round fight. This will be Maddalena’s first outing since his loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 322.

Prates believes a win against the former champion opens the door for him to face Islam Makhachev. He showed respect to the welterweight champion during the press conference for his upcoming fight. But Prates also emphasized that he wanted the next crack at the belt, regardless of who the champion is.

I think Islam [Makhachev] and Ian [Garry are] going to fight in August, and I’ll get the winner…Islam is the GOAT right now, you know. He’s a two-weight division champ, really good wrestling. So it’s hard to fight him.

Carlos Prates via the UFC Perth media interview

Prates had also mentioned this in an interview with MMA Junkie. The striker said he believed he would get the winner of the alleged welterweight title fight happening in August. However, he stressed at the presser that he wasn’t overlooking this upcoming fight. ‘The Nightmare’ called it the “most important” fight of his career because it will bring him “close to a UFC belt

But Jack Della Maddalena, coming off a brutal loss to Islam Makhachev, will be gunning to regain his belt. JDM admitted to being haunted by the events of UFC 322 during the UFC Perth media day. But he also revealed earlier that he still wants revenge on Makhachev.

So, there is a lot on the line for both of these fighters, and a win will not come easily for either. Nonetheless, a win for Carlos Prates at UFC Perth might be doubly sweet because he may finally get his wish from long ago fulfilled.

Carlos Prates will finally have both his mother and his daughter watching him fight

In 2024 before UFC 305 had happened, Carlos Prates got a knockout win at UFC Louisville over Charles Radtke in the first round. After his impressive performance, Prates requested a fight on the card in Australia. His reason warmed UFC fans’ hearts as he revealed wanting to fight in front of his daughter, Skylar, who lives in Australia.

Carlos Prates daughter
Carlos Prates and his daughter, Skylar. [via X]

Now, two years later, Carlos Prates has finally gotten his wish. Both his mother and his daughter will be present to watch him fight Jack Della Maddalena. Prates opened up in an interview with MMA Fighting’s Guillermo Cruz about finally having all his family there to watch him fight.

I grew up without a father and it didn’t make a difference to me because it was normal. But I wouldn’t like my daughter to feel that way too, to think like that…Time is something you don’t get back. You can’t buy time. … I need to enjoy time with her and be with her, you know?

Carlos Prates via MMA Fighting

Prates revealed that if he could have his daughter with him during his training camps in Brazil, then he would. However, the Brazilian fighter stressed that he still wants to be the best parent he can be despite the vast distance between them.

UFC Perth carries both professional and personal meaning for the knockout artist. Prates will not only finally have the chance to win in front of his daughter after waiting for two years, but he may also get a fight against his GOAT candidate next. Prates has said several times that he wants a finish in this fight, but repeating his heroics from UFC 322 against the Australian will not be easy.

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