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Carlos Prates believes he is the No. 1 contender for Islam Makhachev’s UFC welterweight gold, and he wants the title fight to take place in New York City.

Makhachev actually captured the 170-pound title in “The Big Apple.” He defeated Jack Della Maddalena inside Madison Square Garden to win gold in his second weight class. The pound-for-pound great had already dominated the lightweight division with a historic title reign, and he’s looking to further add to his legacy at welterweight.

With his first successful 170-pound title defense against Ian Machado Garry in the books, Makhachev is taking some time to rest before making his next move. Prates believes Makhachev’s next fight should be against him, and he took to Instagram to suggest NYC as a landing spot for a title fight.

“@islam_makhachev #andnew,” Prates wrote.

Makhachev has publicly said that he prefers to fight Prates over Michael Morales next. The welterweight ruler’s argument is that Morales hasn’t been active enough to receive a title opportunity. Morales was last seen back in Nov. 2025 on the same card Makhachev won the welterweight championship. Morales earned a first-round TKO finish over Sean Brady, who had been considered a serious threat at 170 pounds.

Both Prates and Morales attended UFC 330 in Philadelphia to witness Makhachev’s unanimous decision win over Garry. Many believe that Prates is the heavy favorite to be chosen as Makhachev’s next title challenger, but nothing is truly guaranteed in the world of prizefighting. Injuries and other circumstances could leave the door open for Morales if the UFC brass is indeed leaning towards booking Makhachev vs. Prates.

As far as whether or not Makhachev’s next title defense will be in NYC, the possibility isn’t far-fetched. Makhachev told reporters that he plans to fight one more time before Ramadan. That would mean the latest Makhachev’s next bout would be is Jan. 2027.

Do you see Islam Makhachev vs. Carlos Prates happening in November, or will we have to wait a little longer to see the pound-for-pound king back in action? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM