After a chat with the boss, one UFC contender went into his last fight with a clear aim in mind.
Islam Makhachev was approached by the UFC about fighting in January, but that plan fell through.
The welterweight champion’s manager later revealed that two potential opponents were discussed for an early 2026 return.
One of those names was Kamaru Usman, who had been on Makhachev’s radar and recently got back in the win column earlier this year.
Another fighter in the 170-pound division has since claimed he would have been next in line for a title shot if he had hit his target last month.
Carlos Prates claims Dana White offered him a title shot if he finished Leon Edwards in the first round
Kamaru Usman is still being mentioned as a potential opponent for Islam Makhachev, even though there are others in the division who may be more deserving of the next title shot.
Several top contenders picked up wins around the same time that Makhachev beat Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 in New York. One of those was Carlos Prates, who got his biggest win to date that night. But despite that victory, Prates believes Usman will get the first crack at Makhachev.
He recently spoke about a conversation he had with Dana White before his knockout over Leon Edwards, saying that things could have played out differently if one detail had gone his way.
Prates stopped Edwards in the second round and later told Vechtersbazen that White had promised him a title shot if he managed to finish the former champion in the first.
‘The Nightmare’ later expressed concern after seeing the footage of the moment circulating on social media.
“I was not planning to film it but I was with Meta glasses, they sponsored me for that fight, and they posted [it]. Everybody started to share it on Instagram and I was like, ‘Oh my god’. I was worried about him [White] getting mad or not because I forgot they asked me to go to the weigh-ins with the glasses and I just shook his hand.”
UFC rejected Carlos Prates’ request to compete before the end of 2025
Arman Tsarukyan has kept busy with grappling matches after missing out on a shot at the UFC interim lightweight title.
He has even taken on fellow UFC fighters outside his division in these contests.
Carlos Prates mentioned on Vechtersbazen that he was offered a grappling match against Tsarukyan for December 30.
“I accepted but the UFC said no. They didn’t like me fighting but I was really excited at that moment.”
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