Former UFC champion Jorge Masvidal endorses Carlos Prates for title shot following knockout victory
The former BMF titleholder suggests Prates should be granted a championship opportunity or a shot at the vacant Baddest on the Planet belt after his recent stoppage of Jack Della Maddalena.
Former UFC champion Jorge Masvidal has publicly endorsed Carlos Prates as the premier fighter for violence in the sport, following the Brazilian's knockout victory over Jack Della Maddalena. Speaking during a recent episode of the *Deep Waters* podcast, Masvidal described Prates as his current favourite fighter, noting that the welterweight's striking style is both fluid and destructive.
Masvidal drew a specific comparison between Prates and the late football legend Ronaldinho, suggesting that the fighter performs exceptionally well despite lifestyle vices. He noted that Prates has been observed smoking cigarettes at post-fight press conferences, including one following his win over Geoff Neal at UFC 319, yet maintains elite performance levels inside the Octagon.
The former BMF champion highlighted the sheer violence of Prates' approach, citing a lack of hesitation in his strikes. Masvidal observed that the fighter utilises heavy tools such as elbows and knees with a style and grace that aims to end fights immediately, stating there is no pity patting in his execution.
Prates enters this discussion with an impressive recent record, having won seven of his last eight UFC bouts. His only defeat in this period came against Ian Machado Garry in April 2025, a result that has positioned Garry as a likely contender for a future bout with welterweight champion Islam Makhachev.
With the Baddest on the Planet title currently vacant since Charles Oliveira's victory at UFC 326 in March, Masvidal suggested that Prates should be granted a shot at a UFC championship or the vacant BMF belt. However, the source material indicates that no specific title fight announcement has been made by UFC leadership regarding this suggestion.
The timeline for when Prates might face Garry or another contender for a title shot remains undefined, leaving the potential for a championship bout dependent on future scheduling decisions by the promotion.
