Jon Jones was clearly impressed with Carlos Prates at UFC Vegas 100.
The UFC heavyweight champion sat cageside to watch MMA’s premier promotion put on its 100th show at the APEX in Las Vegas, which first began hosting fight nights during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
‘Bones’ watched on as someone used the 12-to-6 elbow that cost him his undefeated record after it was recently made legal in a celebrated rule change.
However, the main event drew the biggest reaction from one of the greatest fighters in MMA history.
Jon Jones celebrates Carlos Prates KO
Like many fight fans, Jon Jones was particularly interested to see how surging welterweight contender Carlos Prates would deal with his toughest test to date.
The Brazilian KO artist, who is infamous for smoking cigarettes after his fights, earned his first main event by recording three consecutive stoppage wins since joining the UFC earlier this year.
However, he’d never fought anyone at the level of perennial contender Neil Magny, who boasts high-profile wins over Johny Hendricks, Carlos Condit, Robbie Lawler, and Kelvin Gastelum.
With ten seconds left of the first round, Mangy went crashing face-first to the canvas, and the fight was waved off in favor of Prates.
It wasn’t immediately clear what had KO’d ‘The Haitian Sensation’, but slow-motion replays showed Prates landed a left-handed shot to his opponent’s temple to put him to sleep.
UFC cameras immediately panned to Jones who was seen grinning from ear to ear while enthusiastically clapping at the ruthless finish.
Soon after, Prates approached the 37-year-old and asked for a selfie before sharing a hug and some kind words with Jones.
What’s next for Carlos Prates?
Prates earned a $50,000 bonus and a place in the top 15 with his win.
During a post-fight interview with Michael Bisping, ‘The Nightmare’ expressed his desire to fight Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 312, which will take place in Sydney, Australia on February 9.
“To be honest, I think the perfect next fight for me would be in Australia,” Prates said.
“You guys know I have a daughter there and I’d really, really love to see her again.
“I’d like to fight Jack Della Maddalena next. I think I’d also be a good fight against Geoff Neal.”
Della Maddalena is currently ranked #4 in the welterweight division. It seems unlikely that he’d be willing to drop down to face Prates, especially after recently being called out by former interim champion Colby Covington.
Whatever happens, it appears the Aussie fan favorite will be competing at UFC 312, it’s just a matter of waiting for the powers at be to announce his opponent.