Carlos Prates Teases Massive UFC Plan Involving Islam Makhachev

Carlos Prates may be setting himself up for the biggest fight of his career.

Nov 15, 2025; New York, NY, UNITED STATES; Carlos Prates (blue gloves) reacts after defeating Leon Edwards (not pictured) in the welterweight bout during UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

UFC welterweight contender Carlos Prates has one immediate goal in mind: becoming a world champion.

To do so, the Brazilian must dethrone the UFC's pound-for-pound best, Islam Makhachev, a champion who successfully defended his title nine days ago vs. Ireland's Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision at UFC 330.

Prates, fresh off a KO/TKO win over ex-champion Jack Della Maddalena in May, is eying a title fight against Russia's Makhachev as the division's No. 1 contender following Machado Garry's setback.

With the UFC having already announced UFC 334 (Nov. 14, New York City) and UFC 335 (T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas), Prates took to his Instagram story and reposted the UFC's official announcement graphic, tagging Makhachev to gauge potential interest in a main-event opportunity at UFC 334.

Is Makhachev vs. Prates Possible UFC 334 Main Event?

Nov 15, 2025; New York, NY, UNITED STATES; Carlos Prates (blue gloves) reacts after defeating Leon Edwards (red gloves) in the welterweight bout during UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Carlos Prates wants to fight Islam Makhachev at UFC 334 in New York City on November 14 👀 pic.twitter.com/h5i3zkVDuQ

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) August 24, 2026

Prates simply captioned the story "#AndNew," which has the MMA community abuzz as everyone waits to see if the UFC opts to book the fight after all.

However, a bunch of fans seem disinterested in the fight, citing potentially a one-sided fight in favor of Makhachev.

One fan, whose tweet has 380 likes, predicts that Makhachev will sit out for a year again while ignoring the fact that Makhachev moved up to lightweight in the same calendar year as his last lightweight title defense vs. Renato Moicano last year. Makhachev competed at UFC 311 and UFC 322 in January and November (successfully winning welterweight gold), respectively.

You’ll be lucky enough if Islam decides to come back and fight you at the end of 2027 kid

— 🛶canoes mma🛶 #femboyFC (@canoesdungeon) August 24, 2026

"You’ll be lucky enough if Islam decides to come back and fight you at the end of 2027 kid," the fan tweeted.

Islam Makhachev Has Rough Idea When Next UFC Fight Will Be

Aug 15, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Islam Makhachev (red gloves) celebrates after defeating Ian Machado Garry (blue gloves) in the welterweight title bout during UFC 330 at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Meanwhile, Makhachev has publicly stated that he would like to fight before Ramadan, which starts in Feb. 2027, contradicting the tweet's claim that the fight could be delayed until later in the year.

Another fan wrote that the fight isn't interesting given their contrasting styles, predicting a unanimous, uneventful decision in Makhachev's favor.

Islam gets wobbled, then hugs him for 5 rounds for another Hugistani decision.

— Catbrah ⛩️ (@Cat_Brah) August 24, 2026

From a different perspective, a fellow tweet read that, by the standard hardcore MMA fans use to portray themselves, Makhachev vs. Prates is the best fight the UFC can make at welterweight right now.

I don’t think anyone would be too mad with Carlos Prates as Islam’s next title defense

— Lunch77 (@Lunch77Beatz) August 24, 2026

With the event less than three months away, the UFC has ample time to make a decision. But it seems a sense of urgency is starting to show across the community.

UFC Has Not Confirmed Makhachev-Prates Yet

Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

If it were up to one fan, Makhachev's continued headlining presence on the East Coast in Newark, Philadelphia, and New York would be unacceptable.

Respectfully sure but not main event. No more Islam as east coast Main.

— PhillyBobbyBrown (@PhillMendel) August 24, 2026

"Respectfully sure but not main event," the fan tweeted. "No more Islam as east coast Main [event]."

For now, the fight still remains unconfirmed. But only time will tell if its interest increases rather shortly.