Carlos Prates isn’t holding back one bit, openly slamming welterweight champion Islam Makhachev’s fighting style as “boring” after watching UFC 330. Prates, who was there live at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, is now gunning hard for a title shot against Makhachev and he’s not shy about his confidence.
The “Boring” Performance Prates Saw
Makhachev (29-1 MMA, 18-1 UFC) took on Ian Machado Garry (17-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) in the main event that past Saturday, and from Prates’ perspective, it wasn’t exactly a thrilling spectacle. Prates (24-7 MMA, 7-1 UFC) straight up said on “The Ariel Helwani Show” that he finds Makhachev’s style “boring.” He added, “I don’t like watching fights at all. Striking fights or some friends, of course, I like to watch. But especially if there’s a grappler fighting, I don’t like to watch. I like to watch people getting knockouts, a lot of action and things like that.” This is coming from a guy who admits he “really like[s] to train grappling more than striking” now, which is wild.
Makhachev’s title defense saw him outlast Machado Garry, taking him down to the mat seven times and controlling him for more than 12 minutes. Yeah, over 12 minutes on the ground. Makhachev also managed to knock Machado Garry down with a head kick in Round 2, ultimately winning the fight four rounds to one on two of the judges’ scorecards. Those are the facts, but Prates clearly wasn’t entertained.
Prates Is Ready to “Shock the World”
Since his own loss to Machado Garry, Prates has totally bounced back with three consecutive finishes, and his confidence is absolutely overflowing as he eyes this potential title fight with Makhachev. Prates isn’t just talking smack; he’s breaking down the film and feels he sees openings. “On the takedowns, I saw the way I can defend some things and stop some takedowns,” he stated, referring to Makhachev’s ground game. But he didn’t stop there. He threw a direct shot at Makhachev’s striking too, saying, “He has good kickboxing, bro, but of course I’m much better so, I’m excited to test myself against him.”
Prates knows he’s going into this as a major “underdog,” but that doesn’t seem to faze him one bit. He’s not just chasing the title or the money; he genuinely wants to test himself against the champ. “I really think I can win. I can shock the world. I can make everybody surprised. I will do this,” Prates declared. You gotta love that kind of self-belief.
So, what’s next? Prates has put Makhachev on notice with his words and his recent finishes. This isn’t just another potential title challenger; this is a guy who watched the champ, called him “boring,” and now thinks he’s got the blueprint to take him down. If this fight gets made, expect an absolute fireworks show, because Prates is coming in with a massive chip on his shoulder and a promise to prove everyone wrong.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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