UFC Rising Star Has a 100% KO Rate While Smoking Cigarettes - Now He's Evolving

“I’m getting addicted to feeling good, to waking up ready to train,” Prates said. “I used to be the guy who’d eat a whole pizza the day before sparring. I’d feel like crap afterward. But now... I’ve cut back (on cigarettes and alcohol). I’m trying, you know? Taking it slow, but I’m trying. No rush. But we’re here, improving every day. Striving to be that 1% better.”

These promises from Prates are signs of his growth as an athlete, though he recently posted a vlog with footage of him smoking a cigarette during his camp preparing for Garry. 

Once dubbed by Brazilian media as the “Romário of MMA”—a nod to the famously hard-partying Brazilian soccer legend—Prates has embraced a more disciplined approach ahead of the biggest fight of his career.

Commenting on how his lifestyle changes have affected his conditioning, Prates said, “I’m physically stronger now—I’ve bulked up to 198 lbs. I’ve reflected on a lot of things, and now I’m in my best version: physically, technically, emotionally—everything. I’m becoming an athlete. Before, I was just a fighter. This process feels amazing.”

With a perfect 100% knockout rate in the UFC, Prates has quickly risen through the ranks, earning his second main event in just over a year with the promotion. A decisive win over Ian Garry could propel him into the welterweight top 10—and position him as a legitimate threat to the title.

For a man who once embraced chaos, Carlos Prates is now chasing greatness. This weekend will be a chance to see if he can pull it off, or if Garry's well-rounded approach will prove too much for him.