Despite the cancellation of the fight in UFC 314, which takes place next Saturday (12), Carlos Prates is more determined than ever. In an exclusive interview with SUPER FIGHTS, Cristian Nogueira — leader of the VTT team and the smoker's trainer — revealed the behind-the-scenes look at the athlete's preparation after the cancellation of the fight against Geoff neal. The coach also shared his expectations for the match against Ian Gary and pointed out which names from the welterweight division (up to 77kg) 'Nightmare' would like to face in the UFC.
Cris Nogueira explained that the team was frustrated with the cancelamento of the fight against Geoff neal, especially since they were already in the final stretch of the camp. However, after a conversation with the agent, they were informed that Dana White was already working to find a new opponent. With that, the team chose to stay focused and continue training, trusting that something good was coming.
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“Man, I confess that we were a little frustrated. Man, a fight fell through, we had already trained so much, it was at the end of the camp, in fact: 'Damn, what are we going to do now?' But our manager, Lucas, said that Hunter and, in this case, Dana White, were already preparing something cool to replace this fight, and by Monday he would already give us an answer. So, we stayed there, training the same way, with our heads focused. I told Carlos, we talked a little — me, Carlos, Pablo, Flávio —, they said: 'man, keep going because good things are going to come for us, you can be sure.'” said the leader of Vale Top Team.
The coach said that everyone was on tenterhooks after Dana White announced that he would make a big announcement. When it was revealed that the new opponent would be Ian Gary, Carlos Prates reacted enthusiastically, showing themselves ready for the challenge. According to Cris, the team saw the opportunity as a true victory, comparing the news to a “symbolic knockout” in Geoff neal, as they would now face an even better ranked rival.
“Then, on Tuesday morning, Dana White said that he was going to make a big announcement. There was a lot of anticipation, because not even Lucas knew what was going to happen, nobody knew, and when he said it was the Ian Gary… our lady! Then he (Carlos Prates) said: 'let's go, let's get it'. We were gifted with a great fight. I'll even repeat what Pablo, from Fight Nerds, said: 'we're considering this fight as if it were a knockout', as if Carlos had knocked out the Geoff neal. Of course it wasn't that, but we were gifted, falling upwards — we already got the tenth, we just got the seventh —, we are close to our dream, which is the belt.”, explained coach Carlos Prates.
Carlos Prates sets his sights on Joaquin Buckley but has dreamed of Garry since he joined the UFC
Carlos Prates is a Brazilian standout in the UFC welterweight division. Photo: Instagram / Carlos Prates
The leader of Vale Top Team revealed that the team is interested in facing names like Colby covington, Joaquin buckley e até Kamaru Usman. According to him, Carlos Prates has a special desire to face Buckley, as he considers him a tough opponent with a good fit in terms of styles. The fighter also revealed that he prefers this type of confrontation over a five-round main event. Still, everyone was very pleased with the announcement of Ian Gary as his next opponent, since he was a name that 'Nightmare' dreamed of facing since he arrived at the UFC.
“Covington, if he came, would be great. The Joaquin buckley too. We mentioned it ourselves, not the UFC guys, but we wanted to, you know? You can send Kamaru, you can send Joaquin buckley, Covington… Carlos really wants to fight this guy Joaquin buckley, he thinks he's a tough guy, he thinks he'll do well, it'll be a good fight. He always says... But not in a 3-round fight, we prefer a 5-round fight, in the main event, headlining a good card. It would be cool. But we were very happy, because Carlos, when he entered the UFC, had two or three fights and said this name: 'man, it would be cool to have me and Ian on a good card, in a main event, later on, but I'll get there'. He said to me... it's like he threw it into the air, the universe conspired and everything worked out.", said Cris.
Coldness and focus are the differences in Carlos Prates' career
Carlos Prates wins another one and remains undefeated in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction X/UFC News
even though Carlos Prates About to face the biggest fight of his career, the coach highlighted that the fighter remains calm and focused, without letting himself be dazzled by success. According to him, Prates' greatest difference lies in his discipline and commitment to training and studying his opponents.
“Carlos is a cool guy, a kid who grew up that way, he doesn’t get carried away. I think what sets Carlos apart is that you don’t see him getting carried away. He trains a lot. He made the opponents he faced look easy because of the way he trains, the way he studies the kids. He has hyper-focus, he keeps watching, he conducts the fight the way he wants to,” declared the Muay Thai specialist.
Coach points to Ian Garry as the biggest challenge in Carlos Prates' career
Carlos Prates (left) and Ian Gary (dir.) face each other in the UFC Kansas City. Photo: SUPER FIGHTS montage
Cristian Nogueira recognizes the talent of Ian Gary and pointed out that he will probably be the toughest opponent Carlos Prates has faced so far. However, the coach believes that the Irishman will avoid a frank fight and opt for a strategic and safe approach, strictly following the limits of the rules.
“I don’t think it’s going to be an easy fight. I think the Ian Gary, for sure, is the toughest opponent Carlos will face. He's not in seventh place for nothing, he's a guy who really deserved it. But I think that, like, everyone is saying that he's going to stick with Carlos — yes, for sure, he's going to stick with Carlos —, he's also a striker, but he's going to play with the rules under his arm, with the rules. I think he's going to think that way, for sure", said the coach.
Coach designs Ian Garry's strategy with Demian Maia's influence, but guarantees that Prates is ready
Carlos Prates (left) and Ian Gary (dir) face each other in the UFC Kansas City. Photo: SUPER FIGHTS montage
He commented that Ian Gary has an intelligent fighting style and, in grappling, he usually goes for his opponents' backs — a strategy he used even before joining the UFC. Now, with the support of Demian Maia, an expert in this sector, Garry must have further refined this approach. Despite this, he reinforces that Carlos Prates has prepared himself well for this type of situation and is ready to neutralize these attempts.
“I heard a lot that he is now with the Demian MaiaAnd Demian Maia has a good game of going to the back. Man, the Ian Gary I follow him, I've seen him fighting for a long time, before he entered the UFC. Man, in every fight he puts himself on the back, in every fight he plays this game. When he feels danger there, he does it. If you watch, you can see: go to his fights and watch, in every fight he tries to go, somehow, to the back. I've seen him play this game. I think that Demian Maia, for sure, he improved a little more, he learned some details. But, anyway, Carlos trained well for these entries.”, he added.
If Ian Garry opts for grappling, Cris explained that Carlos Prates is used to facing opponents who try to take him down and test him on the ground, but he stressed that this is not a problem. The coach highlighted that the 'Smoker' is a black belt in jiu-jitsu, has been training since 2009 and has good ground skills. According to him, Prates' preparation is focused especially on grappling — even more than on Muay Thai, which is his specialty.
“Carlos will fight the opponent he has always fought. Everyone wants to take Carlos down, everyone wants to get on his back, everyone wants to put Carlos to the ground to test his jiu-jitsu ground game. Carlos is a jiu-jitsu black belt and has been training jiu-jitsu since he was 15 years old. He started training in 2009. He is a good kid, a tough kid, he has good sweeps, good submissions, and he is good on the ground. And Carlos’ camp is more ground-based, more ground-based, more cage-based than Muay Thai itself,” observed the leader of Vale Top Team.
Cristian Nogueira believes in Carlos Prates' experience in Muay Thai, resilience and love for the sport
Cristian Nogueira and Carlos Prates training at Vale Top Team. Photo: Instagram / Cristian Nogueira
Even though Ian Garry is a fighter who has been tested at the highest level of the UFC, Cristian pointed out that Carlos Prates has extensive experience in Muay Thai. He recalled that the athlete trained from an early age, fought in Brazil, Thailand and even China — often without a team or corner. Prates faced several adversities, such as competing alone in another country, and still came out victorious. According to Cris, his student is extremely experienced, used to training in discomfort and has a very strong mentality.
“He’s been doing Muay Thai his whole life. He’s always been doing it, he trained with me for a long time, then he went to Thailand, fought, had several fights. Here in Brazil, he had, man, many fights — at least 50 fights here, on the national scene. He won several, went to Thailand, won several, went to China. Man, this kid is tested, he’s used to the climates. Try to imagine a guy living in China, with no one around. He was in Thailand and went to China. His corner was himself. He would go up to fight the best fighters in China. He would call someone from the audience there, who was at the event, who didn’t even speak his language. He would put a bottle of water there himself and drink it. I think Carlos is a very experienced kid, he’s used to training in a lot of discomfort. He’s sinister, you know? And everything you tell him to do, he does… And most importantly: he loves what he does. He likes what he does,” concluded Cristian Nogueira.
Carlos Prates and Ian Garry face off in the main fight of UFC Kansas, an event scheduled for April 26.
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