UFC hopeful Marcos Degli wants to be the Carlos Prates of flyweight division

Brazilian flyweight prospect Marcos Degli is making his Dana White's Contender Series debut on Tuesday night in Las Vegas, facing Paris Moran in a 125-pound bout with a UFC contract on the line. Named among Brazil's top prospects in 2024, Degli has since accumulated three LFA title wins—claiming and defending the belt with consecutive knockout finishes—to improve his record to 14-3. He arrives at the Meta APEX on a 12-fight winning streak, with 11 of those victories coming by finish. Degli draws inspiration from fellow Vale Top Team member Carlos Prates, who has publicly championed his rise and recently earned stardom in the UFC. "Having that support makes me grow mentally, going in there more confident," Degli told MMA Fighting, explaining that training alongside Prates gives him belief in his own potential. "The guy says I'm a badass, so why couldn't I be the one with my hand raised?" Dello's stated goal is to replicate Prates' success in the flyweight division, leveraging similar finishing-focused tactics but distinguishing himself through his knockout power. "Our styles are the same—we come to finish the fight," Degli said. "That's what the UFC likes. And my differential will be my knockout power. I'm a guy with very heavy hands." The road to the UFC has been lengthy for Degli, marked by near-misses: he once volunteered to replace an injured fighter mid-fight week but lacked proper work visa authorization, and nearly got a call to step in for Brandon Moreno earlier this year. Degli believes the delay has benefited him, allowing him to mature as a fighter. "The Marcos 'Tailandês' from this interview is not the same Marcos 'Tailandês' who is stepping into the cage," he said, describing himself as "colder" and "less emotional" heading into Tuesday's showdown. Despite matching Moran's 14-3 record, Degli maintains his path has been significantly tougher, and he is confident his finishing power will prove decisive.