Carlos Prates (20-9) is one of the most exciting welterweight prospects in the UFC today, but his early career wasn’t all that promising.
Preitz made his professional debut in 2012 and had a win-loss record in his first nine matches, going 5-4. However, ‘The Nightmare’ has since turned his career around, winning 15 of his past 17 races and finishing 14th. Preets credits his time in Thailand with being the catalyst for the sudden turnaround in his career. The Brazilian also admitted that he was still very young and prone to making mistakes in the early stages of his career.
“I think after spending a lot of time in Thailand, because Thailand gives me a lot of experience,” Pratz recently told Kevin Ior. “And it allows me to fight with more confidence.” [in] Muay Thai or MMA. Also, I was really young and I was losing a lot. And he was fighting in the wrong weight class. And I didn’t train much and spent a lot of time not improving myself. That way I’ll be a little older and more confident. ”
Preitz earned a UFC contract with a knockout victory over Dana White on the Contender Series last year and has since won three consecutive shutouts. Prates’ victory over Mitch Ramirez on the Contender Series led to him being compared to Dana White’s legendary Anderson Silva. Prates welcomes the comparisons, but doesn’t feel pressured to live up to expectations. The 31-year-old also hopes to draw comparisons like Silva in his UFC career.
“I don’t feel any pressure to be honest,” he said. “I’m just stepping into the cage and trying to do my best…I keep hearing people say I look like Anderson Silva, which is really great. But maybe five years. I’m trying really hard so that 10 years from now, Dana White will come up to another guy and say, “That guy looks like Carlos Prates in his prime.” ”
Pratz is scheduled to face veteran Neil Magny (26-12) in the headliner of UFC Vegas 100 (also known as UFC Fight Night 247) on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Preetz hopes to break into the top 15 with a chance of winning.
“If I beat Magny, I deserve to be in the rankings,” he said. “If I don’t win, I don’t deserve it. But I think, I’m going to fight Neil Magny, I’m going to knock him out. With all due respect, he’s a really good guy. I see. But that’s business.”
