Carlos Prates, the UFC welterweight contender, explained why he should be the next fighter to be given a chance for the title at 170 lbs.
After knocking out former UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena in a brutal match at the main event of UFC Perth on Saturday, he spoke about it in an interview. In this fight, he used many striking techniques. Prates beat down the Aussie for three rounds straight until the former champion couldn’t take it.
It gave Prates the biggest win of his career. Now, his record stands at 7-1 with seven knockout wins.
Speaking to commentator Michael Bisping after the fight, Prates called a shot at the 170 lbs title. It will be against the winner of UFC 330’s expected main event between UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev and Ian Machado Garry.
Even at the post-match press conference, Prates gave his reasons for believing that he should be next in line for the 170 lbs title.
Prates said, “I should be next. Nobody beats two former champs on that really good way. They never do by knockout and then I come there and make it look easy. I respect to them, they are tough. But against Leon (Edwards), against ‘JDM,’ I make it look like easy. And I’m the next. Nobody did it. Of course you have (Michael) Morales, but Morales didn’t fight a former champ. I beat you former champs. So I will be the next.”
Well, no one would mind if Prates jumped the line and beat Gerry for the next match with Makhachev. However, Gerry is next in line for champ at UFC 330. After that, it will be Prates as he has passed other fighters like Michael Morales in the pecking order.
In the 170 lbs field, you have an incredible champion in Makhachev at the top. He is followed by some of the incredible fighters and title contenders such as Garry, Prates, and Morales.
After that, there is a mix of veterans like Sean Brady, Leon Edwards, Joaquin Buckley, Kamaru Usman, Belal Muhammad, and even Della Maddalena.
