Outside Source
Rumors suggest that Islam Makhachev will put his welterweight title on the line against Ian Garry this summer. Prates is confident that he will get a title shot against the winner of that fight. However, it could mean a long period of inactivity for Prates if Makhachev wins, as the Dagestani champion doesn’t fight very often. Meanwhile, a win for Garry should ideally lead to an immediate rematch for Makhachev.
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However, Prates doesn’t think that’s how it will play out. Prates had a conversation with the UFC brass, the details of which he refuses to divulge. However, the Brazilian firmly believes he will get the shot regardless of the winner of the fight between Makhachev and Garry.
“I don’t think they’re gonna do a rematch if Makhachev loses,” Prates said on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “I talked with Dana and the UFC after my fight. We talked [about] some things I cannot say. But I really think I will be the next. No matter who gets the win between Islam and Ian Garry, I will be the next.”
The Skills to Pull Off an Upset
While Prates believes Makhachev will win, he believes Garry has the tools to pull off an upset. “The Nightmare” also wants Garry to win so that he can avenge his lone UFC loss against the Irishman in a title fight.
“The favorite is Makhachev, and I think he’s gonna win,” Prates said. “But I really think Ian has some skills to beat Islam. He can beat Islam. He has a real chance to beat Islam. I want him to win, and then we can do a rematch for the belt. It would be amazing.”
Prates (24-7) has finished all seven of his UFC wins while only dropping a hard-fought decision against Garry last year. Prates and Garry have since become good friends. Prates most recently made a legitimate claim for a title shot by putting on a lopside beating of former champ Jack Della Maddalena before finishing him in the third round at UFC Perth earlier this month.
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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