Carlos Prates tells Kamaru Usman what the UFC has planned for him
Kamaru: “News to me!”
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Carlos Prates is aiming high after his victory over Neil Magny.
Prates took on Magny in his first main event at UFC Vegas 100 — also known as UFC Fight Night 247 — at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday. “The Nightmare” made quick work of the veteran, dispatching him with a glancing left hand at the 4:50 mark of the opening frame.
Prates subsequently called out Jack Della Maddalena for a matchup at UFC 312, which goes down on Feb. 8 at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. While Australia is home ground for Maddalena, Prates also loves the country because his daughter lives there. If that matchup doesn’t materialize yet, the Brazilian has his eyes set on another gatekeeper, Geoff Neal.
“Of course I would like to fight against Jack Della Maddalena,” Prates said on the ESPN post-fight show. “But I heard something like, the UFC wants to do Kamaru Usman against him. But after that I heard about also, Kamaru Usman would fight against Shavkat [Rakhmonov]. So I don’t know, but if he fights Shavkat, probably he’s not going to fight in February. So I’m here, if Jack Maddalena agrees, I would be really happy to come to Australia. Brazilian guy come to enemy’s camp and fight there. There’s my daughter also because she’s living there. And I really like that country… Also I think another good option would be Geoff Neal.”
Prates’ run in the UFC, including his Dana White’s Contender Series win last year, has been nothing short of spectacular. Dana White compared Prates to a young Anderson Silva while giving him the contract, and “The Nightmare” has lived up to the expectations thus far. Prates has gone on a four-fight knockout streak since his UFC debut this past February, walking home with a $50,000 bonus every time.
Meanwhile, Maddalena hasn’t lost in 17 outings, including seven in the UFC, after dropping his first two pro fights. The 28-year-old is fresh off a come-from-behind knockout win over Gilbert Burns at UFC 299 this past March.
