Carlos Prates, billed as Islam Makhachev’s likely next challenger, says he expects to be “smashed” before aiming for a knockout

Carlos Prates has mapped out his mindset for a potential future UFC title clash with Islam Makhachev, and it is not the typical script. In comments reported by Yahoo Sports, the challenger acknowledged that if he and Makhachev ever meet for a welterweight championship, he expects to be overwhelmed for stretches. Prates said he will “get smashed” by the champion at some point, even as he insists the fight ultimately ends with him knocking out the Russian.

Prates’ remarks also reinforce why a matchup with Makhachev carries unusual pressure for any opponent. Makhachev is described in the report as the UFC’s pound-for-pound No. 1, a label that reflects not only his results but also how consistently his style forces challengers into uncomfortable fights. Even when the opponent has a clear path, the burden often becomes surviving the champion’s best phases.

What Prates is describing, then, is less a promise of parity and more an endurance-and-finishing plan. By leaning into the idea that he will be hurt, he is effectively telling viewers to expect adversity first and impact later, a reversal of the usual “I will outclass him” approach. That framing matters because it shapes how fans might interpret his tactics if the fight ever materializes.

The title context in the report is specific: it is presented as a bid by Prates to challenge for a UFC welterweight championship against Makhachev. In that scenario, Prates’ confidence in a knockout is central. Rather than treating a potential finish as the only obstacle, his comments suggest he views timing and momentum as the deciding variables, even if early minutes look bleak.

Still, the conversation around this potential matchup remains hypothetical. The available material centers on Prates’ own assessment and expectations, not on an official booking. Until the UFC confirms an opponent and a title designation, it should be treated as a competitive projection rather than a finalized fight announcement.

If and when the UFC does move toward this kind of matchup, the tactical question becomes whether Prates can preserve the moments when a knockout can happen, despite acknowledging he expects to be dominated for stretches. For Makhachev, the challenge would be resisting the “finish” phase while navigating the challenger’s ability to hurt him when windows open.

For now, Prates’ comments provide the most vivid piece of the story: a challenger who believes the champion’s best work will land, yet who expects to ultimately reverse the outcome. That combination, admitting damage up front while promising a late ending, sets up an intriguing narrative should the UFC bring them together. The next thing to watch is whether the promotion translates that possibility into an official matchup.