The Brazilian believes that a win on May 2 will earn him a shot at the 170-pound gold due to him beating former champions in back-to-back outings.

While Prates’ track record makes him a strong option to get this opportunity, he seemingly already knows that he’ll have to wait for Ian Machado Garry to get his shot first.

Who is more likely to win a UFC title in the future: Jack Della Maddalena or Carlos Prates?

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Carlos Prates smirks after doubling down that Ian Machado Garry is next for Islam Makhachev

Islam Makhachev has said he’s already verbally agreed to his first title defense, with many expecting this to take place at UFC 330 in August.

Many believe that the two options for the Russian’s first challenger are Ian Machado Garry and Michael Morales.

While both men have recently teased fight news, Carlos Prates seemingly implied in a recent interview that he knows which path the UFC have chosen.

“You have Morales, but he didn’t fight any former champs,” Prates told MMA Fighting when laying out his case for a title shot. “You have Ian, he’s going to fight now against Makhachev, so the next [one] is going to be Carlos Prates.”

After doubling down that it will be Machado Garry next with a straight face, Prates smirked when being asked whether he knows this for sure.

“Maybe,” he joked. “We’ll see. Who knows?”

Does Ian Machado Garry have what it takes to beat Islam Makhachev? Explain your decision down below!

Prates, still with a smile on his face, went on to say that he believes Machado Garry is the right pick to receive the next title shot at this time.

With his only loss inside the Octagon coming to the Irishman, he has spoken in the past about wanting both of them to win their next fights so they can fight for the belt in a rematch.