Published 78 days ago
Carlos Prates asserts his dominance in the middleweight division, and Kamaru Usman can’t stop singing his praises.
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Carlos Prates establishes himself as the UFC middleweight division’s new rising star, while division legend Kamaru Usman hails his spectacular rise. A breakdown of a performance that’s already sending shockwaves through the competition.
To remember:
- Carlos Prates is racking up wins and positioning himself as a serious contender for the UFC middleweight title.
- Kamaru Usman, the former undisputed champion, expresses his admiration for the Brazilian’s meteoric rise.
- The 77 kg division could soon see a major shift with the emergence of this young prodigy.
Imagine a young Brazilian who, in just a few fights, has become the new darling of the UFC’s middleweight division. That’s exactly what Carlos Prates is experiencing right now. After a string of impressive performances, the 28-year-old fighter has caught the attention of Kamaru Usman, the former undisputed king of the division. Usman, known for his humility despite his legendary résumé, didn’t hesitate to shower the young prodigy with praise: « Prates has something special. He hits hard, he moves well, and most importantly, he has that winner’s mentality. »
But who exactly is this Carlos Prates everyone’s talking about? Hailing from Belo Horizonte, the Brazilian started MMA relatively late, at 22, after a career in Muay Thai. His style—a mix of precise striking and technical grappling—quickly set him apart in the amateur ranks before he signed with the UFC in 2022. Since then, his rise has been nothing short of meteoric: four wins in four fights, three by KO. A trajectory reminiscent of a certain Leon Edwards, the current division champion, but with an extra touch of Brazilian flair.
Yet, despite this dominance, some skeptics point out that Prates hasn’t yet faced the division’s elite. « We need to see how he fares against guys like Belal Muhammad or Geoff Neal, » cautions one observer. A criticism Prates is eager to silence in his next fight, scheduled for November 15, 2024 at UFC 306. A decisive test that could very well accelerate his march toward a world title.
One thing is certain: the UFC has found a new gem in Carlos Prates. And if Usman, ever the respected figure, sees him as a future champion, fans need only wait for the next twist in this already ultra-competitive division.
With a rise as rapid as it is spectacular, Carlos Prates could well become the face of the UFC’s middleweight division in the years to come. Between the admiration of legends like Usman and the challenges ahead against the elite, the Brazilian has all the cards in hand to write a golden story. Stay tuned!