Carlos Prates calls for title rematch with Ian Machado Garry after TKO win over Jack Della Maddalena

Key facts

• Carlos Prates (24-7 MMA, 7-1 UFC) defeated Jack Della Maddalena (18-4 MMA, 8-2 UFC) by TKO in the main event of UFC Fight Night 275.
• Prates' only UFC loss came via decision to Ian Machado Garry (17-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) in 2022.
• Machado Garry is expected to challenge UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev next.
• Prates has scored three consecutive knockout wins since losing to Machado Garry.
• Machado Garry pitched a title-fight rematch with Prates, suggesting Brazil as a venue.
• Prates knocked out former champion Leon Edwards in his previous fight before Della Maddalena.

A dominant victory in Perth

Carlos Prates emerged as a top welterweight contender on Saturday night, dominating former champion Jack Della Maddalena in the main event of UFC Fight Night 275 at RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia. The Brazilian, who improved to 7-1 in the UFC, stopped Della Maddalena via TKO, adding another former champion to his growing list of victims. Prates, now 24-7 overall, has knocked out two former champions in succession: Leon Edwards in his previous outing and now Della Maddalena. His lone octagon loss came against Ian Machado Garry, who is expected to challenge current welterweight champion Islam Makhachev next.

Prates stakes his claim for a title shot

Speaking at the post-fight news conference, Prates made a forceful case for being next in line for the title. "I should be next," he told reporters. "Nobody beat two former champs in a really good way. They never lost by knockout, and then I come there and make it look easy." He acknowledged Michael Morales as a potential rival but argued that Morales has not fought a former champion. "I fought two former champs, so I will be next," Prates said. The Brazilian's confidence is rooted in the manner of his victories: both Edwards and Della Maddalena had never been knocked out before facing Prates.

Machado Garry's call for a rematch in Brazil

Ian Machado Garry, who defeated Prates by decision in 2022, has already pitched the idea of a title-fight rematch should he dethrone Makhachev. Prates revealed that the two have been in contact. "We talk sometimes, and he called me a month and a half ago," Prates said. "We were talking about life, the fights, and he said, 'Hey brother, you need to beat JDM, then I'm going to beat Islam, and then we can do a rematch in Brazil. It would be amazing.'" Prates expressed enthusiasm for the prospect, though he acknowledged the difficulty of staging the fight in Brazil. "I'm not sure if it can happen in Brazil, but of course it would be really cool to fight Islam because he is No. 1 pound-for-pound," he said. "Of course, it's still business to do against Ian. He beat me, and I don't like that. We have respect for each other, we talk a lot."

Learning from the first fight

In their first encounter, Machado Garry used his wrestling to take down Prates four times en route to a decision win. Prates nearly rallied late, hurting Machado Garry, but it was too little, too late. Since that loss, Prates has evolved significantly, scoring three straight knockouts. "If I fight him (again), the fight won't go 25 minutes," Prates said. "After I lost to him, I learned a lot of things. I think you guys can see how different I am inside the octagon." The Brazilian is confident that a rematch would yield a different outcome, given his improved striking and finishing ability.

The path forward: Makhachev vs. Machado Garry

The immediate future of the welterweight division hinges on the expected title fight between champion Islam Makhachev and Ian Machado Garry. Prates plans to watch that bout closely, with a personal stake in the result. "Let's do it. I hope he beats Islam. I think it's a really hard fight, of course, but I think he has some skills to beat Islam," Prates said. He has already made a request to the UFC: "Let's go – let's do this. I will be there watching. The fight is going to be two days before my birthday, so I'm going to ask the UFC as a birthday gift to bring me to the fight and let me watch." Whether Machado Garry can dethrone Makhachev remains to be seen, but Prates is positioning himself as the next challenger regardless.

A division in flux

The welterweight division is experiencing a period of transition, with former champions being unseated and new contenders emerging. Prates' back-to-back knockouts of Edwards and Della Maddalena have reshuffled the rankings, placing him in the conversation for a title shot. The Brazilian's only loss in the UFC is to Machado Garry, making a potential rematch one of the most compelling narratives in the division. If Machado Garry wins the title, the rematch with Prates would carry added significance: a chance for Prates to avenge his sole octagon defeat on the biggest stage. If Makhachev retains, Prates would likely face a different champion, but his recent performances have made him a difficult candidate to ignore.

The bottom line

• Carlos Prates knocked out former champion Jack Della Maddalena at UFC Fight Night 275, his second consecutive knockout of a former champ.
• Prates' only UFC loss is to Ian Machado Garry, who is expected to challenge Islam Makhachev for the welterweight title.
• Prates has called for a title shot, arguing that no other contender has defeated two former champions by knockout.
• Machado Garry has proposed a title-fight rematch with Prates in Brazil, which Prates has welcomed.
• Prates believes he has evolved significantly since his loss to Machado Garry and predicts a finish in a rematch.
• The welterweight title picture hinges on the outcome of Makhachev vs. Machado Garry, with Prates waiting in the wings.