Following Islam Makhachev’s successful title defense against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330, Prates has claimed that the UFC has guaranteed him the next opportunity to challenge the reigning champion. The Brazilian contender says a new UFC contract confirms his position as Makhachev’s next challenger.

However, the UFC has not officially announced Prates as Makhachev’s next opponent, leaving the welterweight title picture with an element of uncertainty.

Makhachev Extends His Historic Winning Streak

Makhachev strengthened his position at the top of the UFC welterweight division at UFC 330 on August 15, defeating Garry by unanimous decision after five competitive rounds.

The victory was significant beyond another successful title defense. Makhachev recorded his 17th consecutive UFC victory, breaking Anderson Silva’s previous UFC record for consecutive wins.

Garry had moments of success, particularly in the third round, but Makhachev’s wrestling and control ultimately allowed him to secure the decision. The champion reportedly accumulated more than 12 minutes of control time during the fight.

With another championship defense behind him, the immediate question became: Who is next?

Carlos Prates Says He Has the Answer

Prates says the answer is himself.

Speaking after watching UFC 330, Prates claimed that the UFC had guaranteed him the next welterweight title shot. According to Prates, the agreement is connected to a new contract he signed with the promotion.

The Brazilian contender has also made it clear that he wants to fight Makhachev before the end of the year.

Prates is coming off an impressive run in the welterweight division. He stopped former champion Leon Edwards at UFC 322 before following that victory with a stoppage win over Jack Della Maddalena in May 2026. Those victories have helped establish him as one of the division’s most dangerous contenders.

Now he wants the biggest fight of his career.

Michael Morales Complicates the Picture

There is, however, another contender waiting.

Michael Morales served as the backup fighter for the UFC 330 main event and had been viewed by some as a potential next challenger for Makhachev.

That has created an interesting situation in the welterweight division.

Makhachev himself has questioned why Morales and Prates did not fight each other to determine the next No. 1 contender. The champion has indicated that he is willing to face either fighter as long as the matchup happens soon.

Prates, meanwhile, has rejected the idea that he needs another fight before receiving his title opportunity.

Makhachev Wants to Stay Active

Makhachev does not appear interested in sitting out for an extended period.

After UFC 330, the champion discussed the possibility of fighting again before Ramadan in February. That timeline could potentially open the door for a major welterweight championship fight later in 2026.

Prates has made his intentions equally clear.

He believes he has earned the opportunity and wants to face Makhachev as soon as possible.

The Brazilian has even predicted that he would knock out the champion if they meet.

A Dangerous Matchup for Makhachev

On paper, Prates presents a very different challenge from Garry.

Makhachev has built his championship reign around elite wrestling, grappling and control. Prates, meanwhile, is known for his knockout power and aggressive striking.

That creates a classic stylistic matchup.

Makhachev would likely look to take the fight into his preferred grappling exchanges, while Prates would have an obvious incentive to keep the fight standing and force the champion into dangerous striking exchanges.

The stakes would also be enormous for Makhachev.

After breaking Silva’s UFC winning-streak record, another successful title defense would further strengthen his argument among the sport’s all-time greats. His coach Javier Mendez has already suggested that Makhachev is firmly entering the GOAT conversation following the UFC 330 victory.

Is Prates Officially Next?

Not yet.

That distinction is important.

Prates has claimed that the UFC guaranteed him the next title shot, and multiple reports have described his confidence that he will be Makhachev’s next challenger. But as of now, the UFC has not officially confirmed the matchup.

Morales remains part of the conversation, and Makhachev has publicly acknowledged both contenders.

For now, though, Prates appears determined to make the decision simple.

He wants Islam Makhachev.

And if his claim about the UFC’s guarantee is accurate, the next UFC welterweight championship fight could already be taking shape.

What’s Next for the UFC Welterweight Division?

The division now has one clear centerpiece: Makhachev remains champion after another successful defense, while Prates is demanding the next opportunity.

The potential matchup would pit one of the best grapplers in the UFC against one of the division’s most dangerous knockout artists.

For Makhachev, it would be another opportunity to extend an unprecedented winning streak.

For Prates, it would be the biggest fight of his career and his chance to turn a guaranteed opportunity into UFC gold.

The only question now is whether the UFC makes the matchup official.

If it does, Islam Makhachev vs. Carlos Prates could become one of the most anticipated welterweight fights of the year.