Carlos Prates Wants Makhachev First, Then Promises to KO Morales

Carlos Prates isn't interested in an eliminator. The UFC's No. 2 welterweight, riding a 4-0 run inside the promotion with knockouts of Geoff Neal, Leon Edwards and Jack Della Maddalena, says he's already earned his shot at champion Islam Makhachev — and he'd happily circle back to defend the belt against undefeated Michael Morales afterward.

The idea for a Prates-Morales showdown came from Makhachev himself, who floated it after retaining the strap over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 in Philadelphia. Prates has a cleaner version of the story: he ranks first in the queue, so the title comes first, then Morales gets his turn. His overall record now sits at 24-7 with 19 knockouts, and he's kept a perfect 100 percent bonus rate through four Octagon appearances.

The Beef

Told that Morales claimed he was scared to fight him, Prates fired back in blunt terms. He said Morales has two arms and two legs like anyone else, so there's nothing to fear, and if the UFC ever offered the matchup he'd finish it in the first round. According to Prates, Morales replied to a video he'd sent saying he was ready to go — a claim that leaves both men apparently willing, just not yet.

The problem is the math. Morales has won seven straight under the UFC banner, with recent stoppages over Gilbert Burns and Sean Brady, and hasn't lost as a pro. That's exactly the kind of resume that makes him a natural title challenger too, which is why Makhachev's suggestion of a play-in bout carries logic Prates would rather ignore.

What's Actually Realistic

Prates' argument leans on ranking and recency: he's the higher-ranked man, and his win over Della Maddalena — a third-round elbow TKO — is the sort of statement that jumps you to the front. But the UFC rarely hands a title shot to the loudest voice alone, and a Prates-Morales fight solves the logjam neatly for the matchmakers.

For now, Prates has drawn his line. Beat him to the belt, he says, then they can settle it. Whether the promotion agrees is another matter entirely — and Morales, sitting on an unbeaten record, has every reason to argue he should be the one measuring Makhachev for size first.