Following Islam Makhachev’s stunning victory over Jack Della Maddalena, the leading contenders in the welterweight category are now vying for the championship fight. The division is alive with action, and demand for confrontations is quick. But amid multiple superstars, one name continues to make rounds for a potential encounter with Makhachev: Kamaru Usman. Now, Carlos Prates has revealed insider information on the fight.

“I believe that if Kamaru Usman fights for the belt, I’ll need another fight,” Prates told MMA Fighting during a Corinthians game on November 30. “If it’s not Kamaru, I think it will be me.

“There’s what Makhachev wants, [he and Usman] have the same management. Usman is already one of the greatest of all-time in the division — for me, the greatest. So whatever happens, it’s fine. I believe if I don’t get the title fight next, I’ll get one more fight, then go.”

After knocking out Leon Edwards on the same night as Makhachev’s main event, Prates would want a go at the gold, too. However, Dana White holds the final word, approving the biggest fights, and it looks like Makhachev’s next opponent could be the one with the biggest name in the category.

While the Brazilian doesn’t expect Makhachev vs. Usman to be easy, he isn’t siding with the former champ either. In fact, he believes the Russian will take the 38-year-old down. And he has a reason…

Kamaru Usman has managed to score just one win since 2021, which was a comeback win over Joaquin Buckley. On the other hand, he has lost to Khamzat Chimaev and Leon Edwards twice. Islam Makhachev, in contrast, just won the welterweight title with an impressive finish over Maddalena, thus raising the level of competition in the division.

Prates knows that timing and politics play a crucial role in everything at the top. He is optimistic that he will get his chance at UFC gold in 2026, but he also realizes that there’s a lot involved and tough competition to reach either of the two.

Already, Ian Garry, after defeating Belal Muhammad, has been calling out Makhachev every time. At the same time, Ali Abdelaziz has been teasing about a potential encounter with Kamaru Usman. However, Prates’ momentum certainly works in his favor,

He knocked Leon Edwards out at UFC 322 to make his UFC record 6-1, with all six wins being knockouts. His performance earned him another $50,000 bonus, and he rated the entire experience a very confident nine out of ten. And guess what? He already has another name in case Usman goes for the belt: Jack Della Maddalena.

“We’re thinking April, a numbered card in Las Vegas,” Prates said for his clash with Della Maddalena. “He just lost the belt, so we’d beat him and for sure go straight to the title. That’s what we want. … By mid-next year, we’re there [for the belt].”

There has been significant chatter about Makhachev’s potential opponent. But does he want to fight Usman?

Islam Makhachev pushes for Kamaru Usman as his next big test

Islam Makhachev has not been ambiguous at all in expressing his inclination. He chooses Kamaru Usman as the only one who can challenge him among the already mentioned contenders. The king of the octagon considers the ex-welterweight kingpin to be his hardest trial and the collision that accounts for the most considerable profit. When Makhachev was asked who he ideally wants next, he didn’t hesitate.

“I said that I wanted to fight Kamaru Usman next, although the media does not believe in this fight as I can see,” he explained. He pushed back on the idea that newer contenders are the tougher matchup, adding, “Usman would steamroll through each of these up-and-comers like [Michael] Morales, Prates, the striker, those guys have not been checked yet.”

For Makhachev, the motivation isn’t just legacy. It’s the challenge and the spectacle.

“I think Usman would be the hardest fight for me, and in terms of media, we could build it up,” he said. He pointed to Usman’s résumé as the selling point. He is a former champion and has the most title defenses in his weight division. Moreover, if they promote it right, it would be fun to watch.

A showdown with Usman is the challenge Makhachev wants, and he’s making sure the spotlight stays pointed in that direction.