Carlos Prates has given fans an update on rumors surrounding his fight with Conor McGregor, saying he has yet to be contacted by the UFC.
McGregor was rumored this week to be eyeing a return to the Octagon, possibly against Pratts, as the Irish star looks to end his five-year absence from mixed martial arts (MMA).
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McGregor is looking to return in the summer after breaking his leg in his last fight. However, at the time of writing, his desire to participate in the UFC’s unprecedented White House event in June seems unlikely.
Plattes claimed a pairing between himself and McGregor was also unlikely, with the fifth-ranked welterweight predicting he would “hurt” the former champion.
“A lot of you asked me about the Conor McGregor fight,” the Brazilian said in an Instagram video. “I haven’t gotten anything from the UFC yet.
“I’m really happy that you guys are saying my name and of course it’s a huge honor for me to fight him. I really want a fight that brings me a title shot – JDM [former champion Jack Della Maddalena]Conor McGregor.
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“To be honest, I think it’s going to be difficult for this fight to happen because Conor McGregor has not fought in any fights for five years and is retired. [from] MMA, in five years he won’t [come] Back to fight the most entertaining welterweight in the world.
Carlos Prates (left) is a reliable knockout artist (Getty Images)
“Nothing was ever personal, you know? But everybody knew — I knew, he knew — that I was going to hurt him badly. I was going to knock him out, so I didn’t think that was the right way to bring a superstar like him back.
“But if he wants to fight, I’m here and I’m ready. Let’s see. I’m waiting for the UFC to send me something – any name, any place. I’m ready to fight, but of course I want the title. So JDM, Conor McGregor, let’s go for it.”
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Plates has a 23-7 professional record and a 6-1 record in the UFC, with his only loss coming against McGregor’s compatriot Ian Machado-Gary in April 2025. Plates, 32, has come back from back-to-back knockouts against Jeff Neal and former welterweight champion Leon Edwards.
All of the Brazilian’s other wins in the UFC have also come via knockout, and his overall career knockout rate is 78%.
Last week, McGregor wrote on social media: “Guys, next for me could be a faceless guy. […] I accept. Guys, send me the contract. However, the 37-year-old later deleted the post, with UFC president Dana White saying: “If it’s done and he accepts it, I will make an announcement.” “
Conor McGregor (left) broke his leg during his final fight of 2021 against Dustin Poirier (Getty Images)
On Monday, McGregor returned to social media and wrote: “Day 15 of ‘I accept, send contract’.”
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McGregor is a former featherweight and lightweight champion, but he has fought three times in the UFC at welterweight. He has made it clear he wants to fight at the White House on June 14, but that seems unlikely at the moment, as White said last week the card was “done” – before the UFC president claimed McGregor’s next fight wasn’t “done” yet.
McGregor last fought in July 2021, suffering a broken leg in his second straight loss to Dustin Poirier. The Irishman was due to return in June 2024 against Michael Chandler, but withdrew on two weeks’ notice citing a broken toe.
