Prates vows to 'finish' Makhachev's legacy after manager dismisses UFC welterweight contenders

Carlos Prates has delivered a pointed response to Islam Makhachev’s manager Ali Abdelaziz, vowing to “finish” the UFC welterweight champion’s legacy after Abdelaziz dismissed the entire contender pool as unworthy additions to it. The exchange intensifies an already simmering rivalry ahead of UFC 336 on January 30 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, where Prates will instead face Michael Morales for the interim welterweight title.

Abdelaziz sparked the latest round of verbal sparring with a post on X directed at Makhachev’s welterweight challengers. “If you’re a contender, Islam is the champion and maybe the greatest fighter of this generation,” he wrote. “Talk less, because he’ll make you look bad. None of you add to his legacy. He fights for passion, love of the sport, and the fans.”

Prates, who had publicly pushed for a shot at Makhachev’s undisputed title in January, was quick to counter. The Brazilian — known as “The Nightmare” — argued that a fighter truly motivated by passion would not have bypassed the number-one contender. “If he fights for passion, he would fight the number 1 contender in January,” Prates wrote. “I will not add anything on his legacy, I will finish his legacy brother, and also, he will make me look great. Mark my words.”

The back-and-forth reflects the frustration Prates has expressed repeatedly on social media, where he has accused Makhachev of avoiding him. While the champion’s next move remains unconfirmed, Prates must first get past Morales to keep his title ambitions alive.

A win over Morales and the interim belt would put Prates in an undeniable position to demand a unification fight, lending weight to the bold words he is now putting on record.