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Carlos Prates of the UFC

UFC welterweight contender Carlos Prates explained why he should be next in line to get a title shot at 170 lbs.

Prates knocked out former UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena in brutal fashion on Saturday in the main event of UFC Perth. Using a variety of striking techniques, the Brazilian beat down the Aussie for three rounds until the former champ couldn’t take it anymore, giving Prates the biggest win of his UFC career to date. His record in the promotion now stands at an impressive 7-1 with seven knockout wins.

After the fight, Prates used his post-fight interview with commentator Michael Bisping to call for a title shot at 170 lbs against the winner of UFC 330’s expected main event between UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev and Ian Machado Garry, who beat Prates last year.

Carlos Prates Stumps For Title Shot

Following UFC Perth, Prates spoke to the media at the post-fight press conference and gave his reasons for why he should be next in line for a title shot at 170 lbs.

“I should be next. Nobody beats two former champs on that really good way. They never do by knockout and then I come there and make it look easy. I respect to them, they are tough. But against Leon (Edwards), against ‘JDM,’ I make it look like easy. And I’m the next. Nobody did it. Of course you have (Michael) Morales, but Morales didn’t fight a former champ. I beat you former champs. So I will be the next,” Prates said (via MMAFighting.com).

Although no one would blink an eye at Prates jumping the line and beating Garry for the next shot at Makhachev, the Irishman does seem to be next for the champ at UFC 330. But after that, it will be Prates, no doubt about it, as he has passed fellow rising star Michael Morales in the pecking order for a title shot at 170 lbs.

The Lay of the Landscape at 170 lbs

The lay of the landscape at 170 lbs right now is intriguing, as you have an incredible champion in Makhachev at the top of the totem pole, followed by several worthwhile title contenders in Garry, Prates, and Morales.

After that, you have a nice mix of veterans who are looking to stay in title contention, such as Sean Brady, Leon Edwards, Joaquin Buckley, Kamaru Usman, Belal Muhammad, and even Della Maddalena. Plus, you have rising stars like Gabriel Bonfim and Uros Medic, and other contenders like Mike Malott, Daniel Rodriguez, Michael Page, and Yaroslav Amosov. This doesn’t even mention Shavkat Rakhmonov, the former No. 1 contender who has been out for nearly two years with injuries.

For many years, the UFC welterweight division was the promotion’s marquee weight class when the legend Georges St-Pierre was the king of the castle. The title was tossed around like a hot potato for many years after he retired, and it still is, only this time, it appears several young fighters could hold the belt for many years to come, including Prates. Welterweight is as stacked as it’s ever been, and it’s going to be interesting to see how the UFC navigates a crowded field of worthy title contenders at 170 lbs.