T.J. Dillashaw does not think Carlos Prates is ready for UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev – not even close to it.
Prates (23-7 MMA, 6-1 UFC) called for a title shot after knocking out former champion Leon Edwards (22-6 MMA, 14-5 UFC) this past Saturday at UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden in New York. But with Makhachev (28-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) putting on a smothering grappling display over Jack Della Maddalena to claim the belt in the main event, Dillashaw warns Prates that fighting Makhachev is a bad idea.
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“Maybe a little bit more more grappling awareness from Prates would help him out a lot,” Dillashaw said on the JAXXON PODCAST. “Because you can see holes. This is 170, so the champion now, Islam would just wreck him. It would just be an easy fight. I don’t think Prates should be pushing for a title fight right now. Continue to build some star power because he’s a star, he’s entertaining. Take some smart fights because you lose your chance at a title by fighting Islam in my opinion.”
When looking at the upper echelon of the welterweight division, Dillashaw admits Prates would have his hands full either way.
“Even Sean Brady, Shavkat (Rakhmonov) would be a tough fight for him,” Dillashaw added. “Anyone above him is a tough f*cking fight for him. Belal Muhammad outwrestles him, Sean Brady’s got great grappling, as well, too, he’s very strong. Shavkat’s going to outgrapple him. It’s tough. I mean, Joaquin Buckley maybe the fight to make next. Both entertaining guys, both like to strike.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Ex-UFC champ: Islam Makhachev ‘would just wreck’ Carlos Prates
