“I’d hurt him bad”- Carlos Prates spills beans on prospective Conor McGregor fight at the UFC White House card as contract yet to arrive

Rumors about Conor McGregor’s comeback created big excitement this week. Many fans believed the Irish star could return after almost five years away from mixed martial arts. Reports have now linked him with Brazilian welterweight contender Carlos Prates.

McGregor has been searching for a summer bout after long injury problems. He broke his leg in his last fight in 2021 and later withdrew from a planned 2024 return.Prates has now addressed the speculation himself. The 32-year-old revealed on his Instagram that he has not received any message, contract, or approach from the UFC regarding a fight with McGregor. While he admitted the matchup would be a big opportunity, he also suggested it is unlikely to happen.

The Brazilian believes the former two-division champion will choose an easier comeback opponent.

Carlos Prates says he is ready for UFC White House card but expects different opponent

Carlos Prates explained in a reel that many supporters keep asking about a potential clash with Conor McGregor, but nothing official has arrived from the promotion. He said hearing his name linked with the superstar makes him proud, and he would welcome the chance. According to Prates, a fighter coming back after so long would not likely choose one of the division’s most dangerous strikers first.

He added that he respects McGregor but believes he would seriously damage the Irishman if they met inside the cage. For that reason, he thinks it would not be a smart comeback fight for such a major celebrity athlete. Still, he insisted he is prepared to compete against anyone and hopes for a bout that leads to a title shot, mentioning both Jack Della Maddalena and McGregor as ideal names.Prates holds a 23-7 professional record and is 6-1 in the UFC.

His only defeat in the promotion came against Ian Machado Garry in April 2025. Since then, he rebounded strongly with knockout wins over Geoff Neal and former champion Leon Edwards. Every other UFC victory he owns has also come by knockout, giving him a career KO rate of 78 percent.McGregor recently hinted online that he had accepted a fight offer against an unnamed opponent but later deleted the post. UFC president Dana White responded that he would have announced the bout if it were finalized. The Irish fighter then posted again saying he was still waiting for the contract.