Carlos Prates is walking into UFC Perth with a clear vision of where a win over Jack Della Maddalena will take him, and he is not shy about stating it.
Speaking with MMA Junkie ahead of the fight, Prates expressed comfort with the setting, noting he already has a performance bonus from the same arena and hopes to earn another.
“Yeah, it’s gonna be cool, you know? I have good memories in that arena. I have a bonus already there, and I hope to get another one.”
He also made it clear that he does not expect the fight to go the distance, while emphasizing that he will be ready if it does.
“I don’t think the fight’s gonna go five rounds, but if it’s there, I’m gonna be ready. I’m ready for everything.”
Prates then laid out exactly what he believes a win earns him, pointing to his back-to-back victories over former champions Leon Edwards and Jack Della Maddalena as the justification for a mandatory title shot.
“Nobody gonna beat two former champs in a row, and for sure I will be the next. I mean, I will be the next after August. Islam gonna fight Ian, and then after that, I’m gonna get the winner.”
Prates’ confidence is built on real momentum. He knocked out Edwards at UFC 322 in November at Madison Square Garden in what was the biggest win of his career, and a victory over Della Maddalena on Saturday would give him consecutive finishes of former champions inside a matter of months.
Islam Makhachev and Ian Machado Garry are expected to meet for the welterweight title, likely in August. Prates is positioning himself as the next man in line once that fight is settled.