Javier Mendez Praises Carlos Prates Before Possible Title Clash

Javier Mendez says Carlos Prates looked "amazing" in his last outing and is bracing for a dangerous challenge if the welterweight contender lands a title shot against Islam Makhachev.

Mendez, who has trained Makhachev for years alongside the late Khabib Nurmagomedov, broke down Prates in detail in a recent interview, and his read carries weight given his front-row seat to Makhachev's camp. Prates has climbed the 170-pound rankings over the last 12 months on the strength of violent finishes, and a pairing with Makhachev early next year, possibly at the first numbered pay-per-view of 2026, is widely expected to come together.

What Javier Mendez Said About Carlos Prates

Javier Mendez did not hold back on Carlos Prates' striking, calling it the sharpest in the welterweight division. "His precision striking, he has to be the most explosive, pin-point accuracy out of all the welterweights, in my opinion," Mendez told MMA Junkie. He pointed to Prates' knees in the clinch and his range management as separating traits, and he compared Prates' outside-the-cage swagger to former boxing champion Ricardo Mayorga, calling Prates "a beast" who cannot be underestimated.

Mendez also addressed the obvious question mark on Prates' resume. "Maybe his wrestling is one of his weaker points, but it's not weak," he said, adding that Prates' jiu-jitsu is "top notch" and that Makhachev's camp has to prepare for Prates everywhere rather than banking on a takedown-heavy gameplan. That is a notable concession from a coach whose fighter built his reputation on wrestling and control, and it suggests Makhachev's team sees Prates as a live threat on the feet if the fight stays standing.

Why This Matters for a Makhachev Title Defense

A Makhachev-Prates pairing would match the pound-for-pound champion's grappling pedigree against arguably the hardest-hitting hands in the welterweight division. Mendez made a point of noting that Makhachev's own standup has been underrated for years, pushing back on any narrative that this would be a simple striker-versus-grappler mismatch. That framing matters for how the fight gets bet. Books will almost certainly install Makhachev as a sizable favorite given his takedown volume and control time against nearly everyone he has faced at 155 and 170 pounds, but Prates' one-punch power changes the math on live-underdog and method-of-victory markets. A fighter with his finishing rate always carries live dog appeal even against a champion this dominant, and Mendez's comments read like a coach quietly flagging that danger rather than dismissing it.

Expect the number to open with Makhachev as a heavy favorite once the fight is official, with Prates' KO/TKO odds likely drawing attention from bettors looking for value rather than backing him outright on the moneyline.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Javier Mendez say about Carlos Prates?

Javier Mendez praised Carlos Prates' striking as the most precise and explosive in the UFC welterweight division, while noting his grappling defense has improved ahead of a possible fight with Islam Makhachev.

Is Islam Makhachev fighting Carlos Prates next?

A title fight between Islam Makhachev and Carlos Prates is widely expected to be booked, with speculation pointing to the first numbered UFC pay-per-view of 2026.

Is Carlos Prates' wrestling a weakness against Islam Makhachev?

Javier Mendez said Carlos Prates' wrestling is one of his weaker areas but called it far from weak, adding that his jiu-jitsu is strong enough that Makhachev's team cannot rely solely on takedowns.