Appetite for good food and brutal knockouts: Carlos Prates on Indian charm and his UFC title dream

Carlos Prates had quite a bit of ticking off during his visit to India. There was food, traditional clothing, local culture and even fun with firecrackers, according to his social media updates. The Brazilian UFC fighter is enjoying and making the most of a visit that was as much about experiencing India as connecting with its sporting audience.“I am really enjoying India. The food is amazing, the people are amazing. I like the culture, everything. India is one of the places I always wanted to visit,” Prates said in an exclusive interaction with TimesofIndia.com on Saturday.Prates is in India as part of the UFC India Tour, which aims to bring UFC fighters closer to fans. For the Brazilian, the visit was as much about meeting people and experiencing a new culture as it was about representing the UFC.“I like to travel, meet people, talk to people, try different foods. I like to learn about different cultures,” he said.

Carlos Prates in India

However, there was one favorite Indian obsession that he hadn’t quite figured out. When asked about cricket, Prates admitted that he knew little about the sport, despite being aware of its fans in India.“I know cricket is really famous here in India, but I don’t know the rules,” he said.

Life outside the Octagon

The 33-year-old is known for his knockout power in the Octagon, but there’s a distinctly different side to him since fight night. He likes to party, spend time with friends and family, and generally enjoys striking up conversations with people.But he draws a clear line between the two sides of his life. “No bro. I’m always like that,” he said when asked if he switches personalities between fight night and everyday life. “Inside the octagon I have to be serious because it’s my job, my health and my family’s money. My daughter and my mother are there. But outside the octagon it’s different. I like to talk to everyone and have fun with everyone.”

Carlos Prates

This laid-back attitude doesn’t come from an easy path in sports. Before becoming one of the UFC’s most explosive welterweights, Prates had to go through quite the grind in MMA, including six years in Thailand, fighting Muay Thai and kickboxing for a living.

Six years in Thailand and the grind before the UFC

He has previously spoken about the financial realities of the time when there were no sponsors and fighting was often his only way to pay rent and buy food. He’s had about 102 or 103 fights across MMA and striking disciplines, including a year in which he fought 25 times in Asia. He even had days where he showed up at the gym only to be told by his trainer that he had gotten into a fight that night.These years also shaped his view of combat. “The hardest part was the beginning of my career when I had no money and my family probably didn’t want me to fight. Thailand was also difficult because you had to fight to earn money. Sometimes you were injured, sometimes you were sick, but it didn’t matter. You still had to fight.”

From the Contender Series to a seven-game UFC winning streak

That experience eventually led him to the UFC. After earning a contract through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2023. Since his UFC debut against Trevin Giles in February 2024, Prates has built a 7-1 record in the promotion. His victories include stoppages of Li Jingliang, Neil Magny, Geoff Neal, former welterweight champion Leon Edwards and former champion Jack Della Maddalena. His only UFC defeat came against Ian Machado Garry in April 2025. He is 24-7 overall, has 19 knockout wins and has earned a performance bonus for each of his seven UFC victories.A win over Della Maddalena in May 2026 appeared to put Prates in line for a shot at the undisputed welterweight title. He expected to face two-division champion Islam Machachev, but the champion was not ready to compete in January. The UFC instead announced an interim title fight between Prates and undefeated Ecuadorian Michael Morales at UFC 336 in Toronto on January 30, 2027. The winner is expected to face Machachev.Prates did not hide his frustration at the change of plans. He said he expected the Makhachev fight and was upset it didn’t happen.

Makhachev’s failure and the opportunity for an interim title

“He’s acting like a kid, like a fool,” Prates said, referring to the champion. “There’s nothing I can do about it. I need to do my best with the opportunity I have now. My opportunity is to become the champion against Morales. I’m going to beat Morales and then force Makhachev out of MMA.”

Islam Makhachev

Asked if the situation gave him extra motivation to fight Morales, Prates dismissed the idea. His goal, he said, remained the same: to become a champion.“No, no, no. It doesn’t matter. I just want to be the champion. It doesn’t matter if he fights or not, or if I’m upset or not. My goal is to become the champion. I’m working hard. Like I said, I’ll knock out Morales on January 30 and then I’ll focus on Makhachev,” Prates said.

Michael Morales: The undefeated challenge facing Prates

However, Morales is not a direct path to this opportunity. The 27-year-old has a perfect professional record of 19-0 and is undefeated in all seven UFC appearances. He has 14 knockout victories overall and his recent run includes first round stoppages of Neil Magny, Gilbert Burns and Sean Brady – three established names in the welterweight division.Attention was also paid to Morales’ size. He remains a welterweight, competing in the 170-pound division. But during the Indian interaction, Prates pointed out how much Morales will have to shed before the fight.

Michael Morales

“He’s really strong. He’s 100 kilos. He needs to cut 23 kilos to fight. So he’s strong. He’s young. But I don’t know. I think I’m better than him. I have more technique. I have more experience. I’m prettier than him. I’m smarter,” Prates said.He also admitted that Morales has time on his side and could become champion in the coming years. But Prates is not going to allow that to happen on his account.I think he will be a champion soon, maybe in a few years because he is really young. But now is my time. I have worked hard for this and now my time will come. Maybe he’ll be champion soon, but now it’s my turn.

Alex Pereira, legacy and what’s next

Prates also earned praise from fellow Brazilian and former light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, who ranked him among the country’s fighters to watch. The two share a friendship, and Prates said Pereira occasionally sends him messages. He counts Pereira among his favorite fighters.For now, though, his focus is on Morales and a chance to win the UFC title. Talk of legacy and what he wants to leave behind can wait. Prates said he still loves competing, even if the training that comes with it has become less appealing after years in the sport.“After these fights, maybe I’ll be thinking about my legacy, my career, my life,” he said.India, meanwhile, made a strong first impression. Prates thanked the fans who met him and said he would like to come back.“Thank you all for all the support. I’m really enjoying India. I wish I could stay longer but I’ll be back soon.”