Prates targets retirement at 35 after nearly 140 fights leave body damaged

Carlos Prates, the 32-year-old UFC welterweight contender currently on the verge of a title shot, says he intends to retire by the age of 35 or 36, pointing to the physical toll of nearly 140 combined amateur and professional fights as the driving factor behind his timeline.

“I want to leave before [40]. Maybe 35 or 36,” Prates told The Ariel Helwani Show. “I have almost 140 fights. When I wake up and get out of my bed, I cannot walk well. I need to wait 20 minutes for my back to stop [hurting], my feet. Everyday. Both my feet, my back and neck are also bad.”

The Brazilian, nicknamed “The Nightmare,” says the morning routine has become a daily reminder of the wear his body has absorbed over a long career on the regional circuit before he joined the UFC in 2024. Despite the pain, he left the door open to fighting beyond his preferred cut-off point if the financial incentive is strong enough, adding: “Let’s see how many zeros they’re gonna put on my bank account.”

Prates carries a professional record of 24-7 and has been one of the UFC’s most compelling welterweights since his arrival, finishing all seven of his victories inside the octagon. His only defeat in the promotion came by decision, a run that has built steadily toward title contention.

His most recent performance — a finish of former champion Jack Della Maddalena — placed him squarely in the conversation for a UFC welterweight title shot, meaning the next few years could represent the peak earning window he is weighing against his body’s limits.

Prates’ candour about the physical cost of a high-volume fighting career is a rare public acknowledgement from an active contender still within striking distance of a world title. At 32, he has at least three years remaining on his preferred timeline, but the chronic damage he describes suggests the clock is already a factor in how he approaches his career.