Carlos Prates envisions UFC title shot vs. Makhachev-Machado Garry winner
Carlos Prates has his sights set on UFC welterweight gold, but has to handle business against Jack Della Maddalena first.
Carlos Prates could be one fight away from a title shot, but first, he has to get past a former champion on his home soil. In the main event of UFC Fight Night 275 in Perth, Australia, Prates (23-7 MMA, 6-1 UFC) faces Jack Della Maddalena in a big welterweight bout that has Fight of the Night bonus potential written all over it. Della Maddalena (18-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) returns to the octagon for the first time since losing his title to Islam Makhachev at UFC 322, so he'll be hungry to put on a solid performance in his home country.
This will be Prates' second trip to RAC Arena. His first was at UFC 305, where he picked up a Performance of the Night bonus for his knockout of Li Jingliang at UFC 305. That was his third UFC win, and a finish that put a bigger spotlight on him as a true contender.
Prates hopes to remain undefeated in Perth. "Yeah, it's gonna be cool, you know? I have good memories in that arena," Prates told MMA Junkie.
"I have a bonus already there, and I hope to get another one. " Prates has been one of the most exciting finishers on the roster since his signing through Dana White's Contender Series. All of his six wins have come by finish no later than Round 2 – and they each earned a bonus.