Colby Covington says Carlos Prates would be Islam Makhachev’s easiest fight

Colby Covington has weighed in on the welterweight title picture, predicting that Islam Makhachev would make quick work of leading contender Carlos Prates if the two meet early next year.

Prates (24–7), a Brazilian striker, is considered a frontrunner for a shot at Makhachev's (29–1) title, and Covington sees a mismatch waiting to happen. Speaking to Ariel Helwani, the former interim welterweight champion predicted a submission loss for Prates, who relies primarily on striking. "That's gonna be the easiest fight of Makhachev's career," Covington said, forecasting that Makhachev would take Prates down and finish him with either a kimura or head-and-arm choke.

Covington expressed less certainty about another undefeated contender, Michael Morales, who holds a perfect 19–0 record alongside fellow unbeaten welterweight Shavkat Rakhmonov. The Ecuadorian's last three victories have all come via first-round knockout, leaving questions about how he would handle top-level grappling in extended fights. "We haven't seen him in any big fights, high-level five-round fights, so we don't know what to expect from him," Covington noted, adding that Morales remains largely unproven at the elite level.