Beyond his finishing ability in MMA competition, Carlos Prates demonstrates a serious commitment to submission grappling through consistent and deliberate mat work. He trains regularly alongside Caio Borralho, a partnership that reflects a calculated approach to developing elite-level ground skills. Prates has spoken openly about maintaining composure in back-control scenarios, citing a fight sequence at Madison Square Garden as evidence of his ability to stay composed and execute defensively under pressure.
That grappling confidence extended beyond the cage in late 2025, when Prates accepted a submission grappling match against Arman Tsarukyan, scheduled for December 30, 2025. The willingness to compete on the grappling stage against a high-level opponent signaled that Prates views submission grappling as a legitimate strength—not merely a supplementary tool within his MMA game.
The UFC ultimately blocked Prates from participating, citing standard contractual restrictions placed on fighters under the promotion's banner. Despite the cancellation, his acceptance of the match reinforced a broader philosophy in his development: a commitment to testing and sharpening his grappling credentials wherever possible. By November 26, 2025, Prates had already returned to the gym, his pursuit of welterweight title contention fully intact.
