Islam Makhachev’s UFC 330 Victory and Future Challenges

Islam Makhachev successfully defended his UFC Welterweight Championship against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330. He won by unanimous decision, with judges’ scores of 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47. His victory quickly sparked discussions about his next potential opponent, as Carlos Prates is in line to challenge him.

Prates attended the UFC event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and after the main event, a video emerged showing him issuing a challenge to Makhachev. Prates declared, “I will knock you out, bro. I will knock you out. I will bring that belt to Brazil. The first welterweight champion from Brazil.”

Prates is on a three-fight winning streak, having recently defeated Jack Della Maddalena via third-round TKO at UFC Fight Night in Perth, Australia. His last loss was to Makhachev’s recent opponent, Machado Garry, in April.

With a record of 24-7-0, Prates is currently ranked No. 1 among welterweights in the Meta UFC Rankings. This position makes him a strong contender for Makhachev’s next fight. Prates has achieved 19 knockouts in his career and is confident in his ability to do the same to Makhachev.

Despite this, some believe Makhachev will have the advantage, given Prates’ weaker wrestling skills compared to Machado Garry. Makhachev is a skilled grappler, holding multiple submission victories, which could pose challenges for Prates.

After his recent win, Makhachev expressed his thoughts on potential opponents. He mentioned that Prates, due to his current activity, is a possible candidate for the next title shot. Makhachev, 34, desires to fight soon because of his age, which could mean Prates will get an opportunity to challenge the champion if the match is organized.