Carlos Prates Bio
Carlos Augusto Monteiro Prates (born August 17, 1993) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and former Muay Thai fighter. He currently competes in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and is widely known by his ring name, The Nightmare. As of May 5, 2026, he holds the No. 2 spot in the UFC welterweight rankings, a position earned through a series of high-profile knockouts inside the Octagon. His blend of Muay Thai background, knockout power, and southpaw stance has made him one of the most talked-about rising contenders in the 170-pound class.
Early Life and Background
Carlos Prates was born on August 17, 1993, in Taubaté, São Paulo, Brazil, where he also lives and trains today. He grew up in a single-mother household, a background he has often referenced in interviews as a source of motivation. During his teenage years, Prates began training Muay Thai at Vale Top Team, the gym that would later become the foundation of his professional fighting career. After roughly four years of dedicated striking work, he transitioned into mixed martial arts, setting the stage for a career that would eventually span two continents and several major promotions.
Path to MMA
Prates made his professional MMA debut in 2012, but his early years were uneven. Over his first nine professional bouts, he posted a 5-4 record, struggling at times with weight management and training discipline. After his fourth career loss, he made a pivotal decision to relocate to Thailand, where he immersed himself in Muay Thai, competed regularly, and refined the striking foundation that would later define his style. He returned to MMA competition in 2016 and rebuilt his career in Asia, fighting for organizations such as China’s Chin Woo Men and Thailand’s Full Metal Dojo, while also appearing on ONE Championship’s Warrior Series in 2019.
Carlos Prates Career
Early Career (2012–2018)
Prates’ earliest professional appearances came in regional Brazilian and Asian shows, where he experimented across multiple weight classes. He competed as a featherweight in 2013, moved up to lightweight from 2013 to 2014, and settled at welterweight beginning in 2016. The Wanderlei Silva-trained product supplemented his MMA schedule with frequent kickboxing bouts, building a Muay Thai record of 29 wins and 5 losses, including 14 knockouts. By the end of 2018, he had earned wins over opponents such as Wu Sihan, Jacob Ginter, and Chen Zijun, while also suffering notable decision losses to Dave Leduc, Zhou Wei, and Dmitry Menshikov.
UFC Breakthrough (2024)
Prates earned his UFC opportunity in 2023 on Dana White’s Contender Series, stopping his opponent by second-round knockout during Week 4 of Season 7 to secure a roster spot. He made his UFC debut on February 10, 2024, at UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Pyfer, where he knocked out Trevin Giles in the second round and claimed his first Performance of the Night bonus. Wins over Charles Radtke and a highlight-reel left-hook finish of veteran Li Jingliang at UFC 305 followed, with both performances earning additional bonuses and establishing Prates as a breakout finisher.
Main Event and Top-Tier Run (2024–2026)
Prates stepped into his first UFC main event on May 3, 2025, against seasoned grappler Neil Magny, stopping him with a body shot 4 minutes and 50 seconds into the opening round. A planned April 12, 2025 booking against Geoff Neal at UFC 314 fell through when Neal withdrew, but the pair later met at UFC 319 on August 16, 2025, with Prates winning by first-round knockout. He followed that with a second-round knockout of former champion Leon Edwards at UFC 322 on November 15, 2025, and then a third-round technical knockout of former champion Jack Della Maddalena in the main event of UFC Fight Night 275 on May 2, 2026. Each of those performances earned him another Performance of the Night award, pushing his UFC knockout streak and his standing among the division’s elite.
Style and Strengths
Prates is primarily a stand-up fighter, drawing on a deep Muay Thai base to attack with knees, elbows, and heavy punches from the southpaw stance. His 78-inch reach allows him to land step-in elbows and body knees at distance, and he is widely regarded as one of the heaviest hitters in UFC history, with twelve knockdowns across his first eight UFC bouts. Defensively, he fights with his hands low near his hips and relies on power rather than volume, often being outstruck by totals but finishing opponents before the scorecards come into play.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Prates became the first fighter to knock out Li Jingliang, finished Neil Magny in a main event with a body shot, and added former welterweight champions Leon Edwards and Jack Della Maddalena to his knockout ledger. His consecutive Performance of the Night awards in each UFC appearance highlighted his finishing rate and star power. Reaching No. 2 in the UFC welterweight rankings in May 2026 cemented his status as a title contender in one of the promotion’s deepest divisions.
Carlos Prates Career Wins
Across his professional career, Prates has compiled 23 documented MMA wins against 7 losses in 30 total appearances, supplemented by 29 kickboxing victories. In the UFC specifically, every one of his wins to date has come by knockout or technical knockout, a streak that has produced multiple Performance of the Night bonuses. His finishing ability has been the defining trait of his résumé, particularly at welterweight, where he has settled since 2016.
UFC Highlights
Prates’ UFC run began with a second-round knockout of Trevin Giles and quickly escalated with first-round finishes of Charles Radtke, Li Jingliang, Neil Magny, and Geoff Neal. He added a second-round knockout of former champion Leon Edwards at UFC 322 and a third-round technical knockout of former champion Jack Della Maddalena at UFC Fight Night 275. His only UFC loss to date is a unanimous decision to Ian Machado Garry in the main event of UFC on ESPN 66 on April 26, 2025.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the UFC, Prates captured the SFT Xtreme Welterweight title on November 6, 2021, finishing Dengue Silva with a fifth-round body punch. Earlier standouts include a first-round knockout of former Rajadamnern Stadium champion Diesellek Seardammhooplara at Muay Hardcore and a first-round knee finish of Chen Zijun at Kunlun Fight. His ONE Championship Warrior Series appearances and stops on China’s Chin Woo Men circuit helped build the path to his Contender Series invitation.
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Carlos Prates Family
Family Background and Lineage
Prates was raised by a single mother in Taubaté, São Paulo, and has frequently credited her support as a driving force behind his fighting career. His early introduction to martial arts came through Vale Top Team, the gym that has shaped his development since his teenage years. He now trains out of Vale Top Team alongside the Fighting Nerds squad, forming his current professional team.
Personal Life
Prates resides in Taubaté, Brazil, where he continues to train with his longtime team. He holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, reflecting the grappling base he has added to his Muay Thai striking. In 2026, he became an ambassador for the global online sportsbook 1xBet, expanding his profile beyond the cage.
2025 Season Performance
Prates’ 2025 campaign began with a first-round knockout win over Neil Magny in the main event of UFC Fight Night, reaffirming his status as a top welterweight finisher. A planned UFC 314 clash with Geoff Neal was scrapped when Neal withdrew, but Prates rebounded with a unanimous decision loss to Ian Machado Garry at UFC on ESPN 66, his first defeat inside the Octagon. He closed the year by rebooking and beating Neal via first-round knockout at UFC 319 on August 16, 2025, before adding a second-round finish of former champion Leon Edwards at UFC 322 on November 15, 2025.
That closing stretch pushed Prates into title contention and set the stage for his early-2026 showdown with Jack Della Maddalena. Heading into 2026, he retained his No. 2 ranking at welterweight and continued collecting Performance of the Night bonuses for each finish. With his knockout run intact and his southpaw Muay Thai arsenal sharper than ever, Prates entered the new season firmly positioned within the division’s title conversation.
