Arriving within the promotion with a 17-6 file, Carlos Prates racked up wins in ONE championship and LFA earlier than seizing a chance on Dana White’s contender collection in August 2023. It was there that he completed Mitch Ramirez with a straight left in spherical quantity two, which was sufficient to earn him a contract with the UFC.
Beginning Off With A Bang
His full debut got here at UFC battle night time in February final yr, the place he once more stopped his opponent Trevin Giles with the identical shot in the identical spherical as his earlier sufferer. The excellent end was sufficient to earn him efficiency of the night time, incomes himself an additional $50,000 on high of his battle purse as he introduced himself to a fair wider viewers.
4 months later he was matched with Chris Radtke on one other battle night time card, when Joe Martinez referred to as out the Brazilians identify you might inform from the group response that the UFC fanbase had taken to the promising welterweight expertise. His American opponent was no slouch and got here into the competition already carrying two wins underneath the UFC banner, so it was seen as a fair match-up on paper.
However that’s the place the evenness ended, as quickly as they stepped within the octagon you knew from Prates’ stature in comparison with Radtke’s that it was solely a matter of time with the artillery he carries. A thunderous physique kick within the first spherical that compelled Radtke to curve up and primarily stop noticed Prates rake in one other $50,000 with the efficiency of the night time bonus, additional enhancing his fast-growing status.
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Advantages Of Early Finishes.
His third win of the yr got here after his shortest turnaround with a niche of simply two months between battle dates the place he jumped on the probability to function on the largest card of his UFC profession up to now, UFC 305 Du Plessis vs. Adesanya, and but once more he delivered. The subsequent sufferer of the Carlos Prates period was Li Jingliang, who had by no means been knocked out in his earlier twenty-seven fights, together with eight defeats. ‘
‘The Nightmare’ ended that run emphatically within the second spherical after what was principally a Muay Thai battle. After the first weapon of his deadly left hand landed a number of instances and his ordinary array of kicks and elbows, the Brazilian had Jiangliang on his toes after connecting with a pinpoint left cross, which compelled him backwards. In fact, Prates adopted him like a canine and landed a knockout of-the yr contender, which introduced an enormous pop for the Australian crowd and one more fight-of-the-night bonus for the previous ONE championship fighter.
The Nightmare.
Typically, for many fighters working their means by way of the rankings, they must beat a contender that sits across the high fifteen in a battle scheduled for 5 rounds, and in November final yr, he did precisely that. In his means was the UFC veteran Neil Magny, who has been with the promotion since 2013, producing some huge moments of his personal. However it was Prates who produced one other huge second when he ran by way of Magny within the first spherical, laying him out flat on the canvas.
Shock, shock, it was one more bonus heading the nightmare’s means after as soon as once more residing as much as his nickname. A very excellent begin to life within the UFC with 4 fights, 4 knockouts, 4 bonuses in 2024 and now sitting at quantity 13 within the rankings of a littered welterweight division with large names comparable to Leon Edwards, Shavkat Rakhmonov and present champion Belal Muhammad.
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What’s Subsequent?
He now has many potential choices with additional names like Joaquin Buckley and Sean Brady, who would pose a a lot more durable problem than his opponents over the past twelve months. There may be additionally the prospect of combating former champion Kamaru Usman or Colby Covington, plus many extra high-profile names in one of many fan’s favorite weight courses.
Who would you prefer to see the 2024 breakout fighter of the yr face subsequent? Tell us within the remark part!
