Carlos Prates says McGregor dodged him before UFC 329 injury

UFC welterweight Carlos Prates believes Conor McGregor sidestepped a dangerous matchup before his ill-fated return at UFC 329.

McGregor's comeback ended in disaster Saturday when he injured his right knee just 69 seconds into his rematch with Max Holloway in Las Vegas. The injury came on the first kick the former two-division champion threw, per Sherdog's coverage. Before the Holloway fight was booked, rumours had the UFC offering McGregor a welterweight scrap against Prates, a Brazilian finisher who has stopped all seven of his UFC opponents.

Prates tells McGregor to never take the fight

Prates reacted to the UFC 329 headliner with a warning posted to his Instagram story. "If I fight against u, I would hurt you bad bro," he wrote. "Don't accept the fight against me Mc chicken. And have your legacy already, now it's time for the new generation. And never cut your hair like this again." The last line referenced the mohawk McGregor wore for his walkout.

The Brazilian, who carries a 24-7 record, has only one UFC loss — a decision against Ian Garry, who challenges Islam Makhachev for lightweight gold at UFC 330. McGregor himself claimed in a June interview that the UFC offered him Prates in an apparent attempt to push him back down to lightweight, but the Irishman said he accepted the matchup anyway before the promotion pivoted to Holloway.

McGregor now sits at 22-7 overall and has not won a fight since January 2020.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Conor McGregor avoided a nightmare matchup? Carlos Prates thinks so