Carlos Prates

Carlos Augusto Monteiro Prates, known to fans as "The Nightmare," is a Brazilian mixed martial artist competing in the welterweight division of the UFC.

Born and raised in Taubate, Sao Paulo, by a single mother, Prates began training in Muay Thai as a teenager at Vale Top Team. After several years of striking instruction he turned to mixed martial arts, and following a rocky start to his professional career he relocated to Thailand, immersing himself in the region's Muay Thai scene before refocusing on MMA.

That stretch produced a genuine striking pedigree: Prates compiled a Muay Thai and kickboxing record of 29 wins, 14 by knockout, against 5 losses, competing across Thailand, China and the UAE. His opposition included future Lethwei world champion Dave Leduc, and he captured the SFT Xtreme Welterweight Championship with a fifth-round knockout in 2021.

That background shows plainly in the cage. Fighting from the southpaw stance with notable size and reach for the weight class, Prates is a Muay Thai-first striker known for his step-in elbow and heavy hands, widely regarded as one of the hardest punchers in UFC history. He carries his hands low and does not rely on elite head movement, instead closing distance and looking to end fights with power over volume.

Prates turned professional in mixed martial arts in 2012 and spent years on Asia's regional circuits before earning a UFC contract with a knockout win on Dana White's Contender Series. He debuted in the UFC with a knockout of Trevin Giles and quickly built a reputation as one of the promotion's most dangerous finishers, stopping veterans such as Li Jingliang and Neil Magny inside the distance. His rookie run brought consecutive Performance of the Night bonuses and recognition as a Newcomer of the Year across multiple outlets.

Representing the Fighting Nerds camp alongside a wave of rising Brazilian talent, Prates is regarded as a rare crossover product of the Muay Thai and kickboxing circuits, carrying that foundation into the UFC's welterweight ranks and establishing himself as one of the most feared strikers to emerge from Brazil in his generation.