Carlos Prates may be in the prime of his UFC career, but he has already started thinking about when he will step away from the sport.

Currently ranked as the No. 2 contender at welterweight, Prates holds a 7-1 record in the UFC, with all of his wins coming by knockout.
He most recently defeated Jack Della Maddalena via third-round TKO at UFC Perth, putting himself firmly in the title picture.

Despite his momentum, Prates revealed that the physical toll of fighting is already affecting him on a daily basis:

When I wake up and go out of my bed, bro I cannot even walk well. I need to wait 20 minutes.
Need wait for my back to stop the pain, my feet.

He explained that persistent back pain and foot issues have made recovery increasingly difficult, and there is rarely a day where he feels fully healthy.
Because of that, Prates is planning a relatively short remaining career, stating that he expects to retire within the next three to four years.

Carlos Prates says he plans to retire at 35 or 36 years old. He says he can’t get out of bed without being in pain

“When I wake up and go out of my bed, bro I cannot even walk well. I need to wait 20 minutes. Need wait for my back to stop the pain, my feet”

via @arielhelwani pic.twitter.com/2Q65FRi0bd

— Dovy🔌 (@DovySimuMMA) May 20, 2026

He also opened up about his unusual sleep habits, which differ from the typical recovery routines followed by most professional athletes:

Bro, I cannot sleep too much, normal days I sleep like 4 hours.
I go sleep at like 11 or midnight, and 1:30am I wake up and stay awake all night.

Then I go sleep like 6:30am until 8:30/9am then I go to the gym.

😴Carlos Prates says he doesn’t sleep much:

“Bro I cannot sleep too much, normal days I sleep like 4 hours.

I go sleep at like 11 or midnight, and 1:30am I wake up and stay awake all night. Then I go sleep like 6:30am until 8:30/9am then I go to the gym”

via @arielhelwani pic.twitter.com/O1ELNgeb57

— Dovy🔌 (@DovySimuMMA) May 20, 2026

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