Javier Mendez likes what he sees in Carlos Prates. He just won’t tell you the fight is booked, because nobody has told him it is.
The American Kickboxing Academy head coach, who runs the corner for welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, broke down Prates’ range, knees and grappling in comments covered by MiddleEasy. He also made clear he has not received confirmation of a Makhachev vs. Prates fight. MMA Junkie reported that Mendez is a fan of Prates, calling the Brazilian a beast, and likened his persona to boxing’s Ricardo Mayorga. Getting that kind of praise from the guy whose job is figuring out how to beat you counts as a pretty good week.
Where the Toronto talk came from
The Toronto chatter traces back to reporter Alvaro Colmenero. After Prates posted a video calling out Makhachev and branding himself wrestling’s worst nightmare, Colmenero answered on X with a hint that talks were moving: “Prates can train hard now because, if the negotiations continue on their course, we’ll see the Brazilian fighting against Islam Makhachev next January 30 at #UFC336 in Toronto.” Per that report, the fight would be Makhachev’s second title defense.
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The venue is real. During the UFC Edmonton broadcast, the promotion announced UFC 336 for Scotiabank Arena on January 30, 2027. It’s the UFC’s first stop in Toronto since January 2024, when Dricus du Plessis took the middleweight title from Sean Strickland by split decision. No bouts have been officially announced for the card.
The date lines up nicely for Makhachev. He has talked about wanting to fight before Ramadan, which is expected to start around February 8, 2027, depending on the moon sighting. A January 30 slot gets him in and out with about a week to spare.
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Prates has at least one big name in his corner on the stylistic argument. Charles Oliveira said Ian Garry showed the blueprint: “If he lands those kicks to the ribs and calves like Garry, he could catch Islam off guard. If Islam doesn’t secure a finish in the first or second round and Prates maintains his composure, he has everything he needs to win.”
The rest of the division is lining up behind it. Michael Morales and Shavkat Rakhmonov, both 19-0, have been trading hype, with Rakhmonov posting sparring footage on TikTok captioned “19-0 VS 19-0” and Dana White flashing a knowing smile when asked about it. Mike Malott just flattened Joaquin Buckley with a second-round knee in the UFC Edmonton main event, and a home-country booking in Toronto would make sense for him. None of those fights are confirmed either.
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My take: Mendez is doing exactly what a good coach should do, and I respect it. Rumors from a reporter’s X account don’t count as a bout agreement, and AKA has been around long enough to know the difference. And I love that the Mayorga comparison came from the champ’s own camp. You don’t hand out that kind of compliment to a guy you think is a soft touch. If the contracts show up, Prates gets the swaggering trash-talk role he clearly wants, Makhachev gets his pre-Ramadan date, and Toronto gets a real headliner on January 30. Until then, Prates should take Colmenero’s advice and keep training like it’s happening.
