Carlos Prates says UFC promised him the next title shot vs. Islam Makhachev, aiming to “shock the world”

Carlos Prates says the UFC has told him he will be next in line for a title fight against Islam Makhachev, and he is presenting the opportunity as a deliberate attempt to make a statement. In a “Morning Report” conversation published by Yahoo Sports on Aug. 19, Prates said he has been guaranteed the next shot at Makhachev, and he described his motivation as wanting to “shock the world.”

Prates is not alone in publicly calling for big matchups, but his claim is notable for how specific it is. Rather than simply advocating for a fight, he says the UFC has already made a commitment to slot him as the next challenger for Makhachev. That distinction matters because the UFC’s path to title shots is usually shaped by rankings, recency, and negotiations, and a “guarantee” implies internal matchmaking decisions have already been made.

The statement also puts Prates in a rare position. If a champion and the promotion are treated as the gatekeepers of a title picture, then having the challenger’s next step seemingly predetermined changes the pressure profile going into the fight. Prates’ comments suggest he believes the work that brought him to this point has been recognized, and he wants to capitalize on that timing rather than wait through the typical churn of contenders calling for their turn.

At the same time, the key question is verification. UFC decisions can shift quickly, and promotions rarely confirm detailed guarantees through third-party media interviews unless they are formalized through official announcements. As of publication of the Yahoo Sports report, Prates’ description should be treated as his claim about what has been communicated to him, not as an official bracket or schedule until the UFC or its event partners confirm the matchup.

Prates’ approach to the spotlight is also consistent with how fighters often discuss the gap between being selected and being believed. His use of the phrase “shock the world” indicates a mindset that goes beyond simply competing at the highest level. It suggests he expects skepticism from observers and wants to turn that doubt into motivation, which is a recurring theme in UFC title-takes where the challenger tries to introduce uncertainty into an established champion’s run.

For UFC fans, the story’s immediate value is that it sharpens attention on the title picture around Makhachev. If Prates’ claim proves accurate, then the next phase is about how the UFC builds the fight, what it does with other contenders in the division, and whether the promotion treats Prates as the clear frontrunner or still keeps the door open for alternate matchups.

What to watch next is straightforward: look for an official UFC confirmation of the next title fight involving Makhachev and whether Prates is formally named as the opponent. If an announcement arrives, it will clarify whether the “guarantee” was an actual matchmaking decision already locked in or a reference to informal assurances. Either way, Prates has turned a milestone claim into a public storyline, and the UFC’s response will determine whether it becomes the next chapter of certainty or a prompt for immediate follow-up.