Ahead of his biggest UFC fight to date, Carlos Prates still hasn’t given up cigarettes judging by new footage.
The surging Brazilian star takes on Ian Machado Garry in a bout that will either make or break him as a legitimate contender in the welterweight division. He has made it to the top 15 in lightning quick time with four knockout wins since debuting in the UFC last year.
Prates has knocked out the likes of Li Jingliang, Charles Radtke and Trevin Giles on his way to a number 13 spot and two Fight Night headliners. The one opponent he and Garry share; Neil Magny, lasted three brutal rounds which he lost 10-8 against the Irishman, but the Brazilian managed to KO him in one round.
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Carlos Prates caught smoking hours before weighing in for UFC Kansas City
Yesterday afternoon, Carlos Prates participated in a touching moment where he initiated a fan suffering from esophageal cancer into the Fighting Nerds training family. He and his teammates donned yellow jackets, which they gifted to mega-fan Randy after shaving his head upon his request.
The Brazilian then headed outside and a video caught by undercard fighter Chris Gutierrez from his hotel room showed Prates smoking a cigarette. He laughed as he told his followers: “Want to see some crazy s—? I’m creepin’ on him but G is smoking, man. Look boy, he’s smoking a cigarette. That is crazy.”
This might seem shocking to fans who don’t know the welterweight contender to see him engaging in such a habit. But those in the know are aware that he has never shied away from smoking, even during his fight weeks.
Carlos Prates insists he won’t give up on smoking before UFC headliners
After his fight with Ian Machado Garry was announced, Carlos Prates told Ariel Helwani on his Uncrowned show that he didn’t intend to stop smoking ahead of his latest five rounder. His last fight was scheduled for five rounds, but only went one as he landed a knockout.
“Yeah [I still smoke],” Prates explained after noting how regularly he trains. “No problem. Still doing five rounds, six rounds. I’m trying to smoke a little bit less, but not because I’m going to fight – because I want to smoke a little bit less.
“I stay without drinking maybe two months, one month and a half, because I don’t go party. I don’t go anywhere, just training. It’s not difficult to be far away from drink, but it’s difficult to stay far away from party.”
Garry believes that his inability to cut out cigarettes will affect him as he moves towards the championship rounds. Prates has yet to get out of the second in his UFC career, while Garry is known for going the distance and winning decisions.