A shocking revelation has surfaced in the UFC world: a top contender claims a direct promise from Dana White, the UFC's boss, hinged his title shot on a single, electrifying performance. This story is filled with twists, turns, and the ever-present drama of the fight game!
Let's dive in. A prominent UFC fighter, whose name has been swirling in the title contention conversation, had a very specific goal in mind for his last bout. He knew what he had to do to get a shot at the gold.
But here's where it gets controversial... It seems the UFC had approached Islam Makhachev about a potential fight in January, but the opportunity for a quick turnaround was reportedly denied. Now, the plot thickens. According to the welterweight champion’s manager, two names were seriously considered for a potential early 2026 title fight. One name? The fighter Islam Makhachev has been vocally pushing for: Kamaru Usman, who impressively returned to the win column earlier this year.
And this is the part most people miss... Another fighter, also vying for a spot at 170 pounds, claims that he was promised the next title shot if he achieved a specific goal in his previous fight.
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Carlos Prates claims Dana White told him he'd be next in line for a title shot if he could finish Leon Edwards in the first round.
It's important to note that, despite many arguing there are other, more deserving challengers, Islam Makhachev has been warned about Kamaru Usman. Several top contenders secured wins around the same time Prates defeated Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 in New York.
Despite achieving his biggest victory to date on the same night, Prates believes Usman will get the first crack at the new champion. He revealed that a conversation with Dana White the day before his knockout win over Leon Edwards shaped his expectations.
Prates stopped the former champion in the second round, and he told Vechtersbazen that the UFC president had made a bold promise: a title shot if he could finish Edwards in the first round. Prates even admitted to some concern after seeing footage of the conversation circulating on social media. He was worried about White's reaction, having forgotten he was asked to wear Meta glasses at the weigh-ins.
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Adding another layer to this already complex narrative, Carlos Prates also revealed that the UFC turned down an opportunity for him to compete before the end of 2025. He was approached about grappling Arman Tsarukyan on December 30. He accepted, but the UFC vetoed the idea.
Controversy Alert: Does Kamaru Usman deserve a title shot? Considering his accomplishments, is it fair that he might get a shot over other deserving contenders? What do you think about the former champion potentially getting a title shot? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Let's get the conversation going!
