Carlos Prates has weighed in on UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev’s first title defense.
Prates (23-7 MMA, 6-1 UFC) called for a title shot after knocking out former champion Leon Edwards at UFC 322. However, with numerous contenders vying for their shot, he has now turned his attention to Jack Della Maddalena.
Makhachev (28-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) expressed interest in Kamaru Usman, but Ian Machado Garry and Michael Morales both made their case after recent impressive wins. Makhachev claimed he turned down a title defense for UFC 324, which he believed was Morales.
And that’s the fight Prates sees happening.
“I think it’s going to happen because if Kamaru is not fighting against Islam, probably they’re going to put Morales because they started to trash talk and things like that,” Morales said in an interview with MMA Today. I’m really down to fight Jack Della Maddalena or Morales, but I think Morales is going to fight for the belt. I don’t know what’s happening with Kamaru. I don’t know if he got an injury or something like that. I want to fight JDM.”
Prates is referring to the recent controversy behind Morales’ record. Tapology deemed him as no longer undefeated after pulling up a bout from a reality show in Ecuador where he was quickly submitted. However, the MMA record keepers later changed their tune and kept Morales’ undefeated record intact, declaring that fight as an exhibition.
