Chicago — Carlos Prates vs. Geoff Neal was supposed to happen earlier this year, but in a case of better late than never, it arrives at UFC 319 this Saturday.
With Neal forced out due to injury, Prates instead faced Ian Machado Garry at UFC Kansas City in April. Garry won a decision that night, and Prates found himself rebooked with Neal.
“Yeah, I think it’s the fight that makes sense. We should have fought before, but Geoff got injured and then I fought Ian Garry,” Prates (21-7) told media outlets including Cageside Press during Wednesday’s UFC 319 media day, asked about getting the match-up put back together. “Now, I think the fight makes sense.”
In the aforementioned loss to Garry, Prates says he learned a number of lessons, including to listen to his coaches, and have the right game plan.
“Of course Ian is great, he’s really smart, really intelligent fighter. But I learned also how to be a complete fighter. It’s important,” admitted Prates. “It’s time to stop thinking about only bonuses, like knocking people out, bonuses and entertaining people, and just focus on getting the win. Because at the end of the day, getting the win is more important than a bonus or something like that.”
Later, Brazil’s Prates noted that “we are on biggest, high level. So small mistakes can change the end of the fight.”
Neal has claimed he’s preparing for a one round fight, leaving Prates to question the wisdom of thinking short term when I fight could go long. Then again, it may be that Neal is just looking to speak something into existence.
“I know a lot of people like to say something to make the thing become real, but definitely, he says he’s going to knock me out in the first round, it’s [not] going to become real,” Prates countered.
Prates went on to tell Cageside Press that he feels a win over Neal could put him right back in the title hunt.
“I think after winning [against] Geoff now, it’s going to make a life in the top of the division. When you talk about who is close to the title shot, maybe one, two, three fights, you have some names there. I lost my last fight, so I think my name is not there. But I think after I beat Geoff Neal, my name is going back to the bunch of guys that are close to a title shot. Maybe three fights, one year, can fight for the belt.”
Watch the full UFC 319 media day appearance by welterweight Carlos Prates above. The card takes place this Saturday, August 16, 2025 at the United Center in Chicago, IL.
