Carlos Prates reveals behind the scenes with Fiziev and predicts Charles do Bronx's fight at UFC Rio: 'It won't be easy'

Carlos Prates reveals behind the scenes with Fiziev and predicts a fight Charles of the Bronx at UFC Rio. Montage: SUPER FIGHTS

Confirmed as the main attraction of UFC Rio, on October 11, Charles of the Bronx is already dividing opinions in the MMA community. The former lightweight champion (70,3 kg), who is trying to recover from the knockout he suffered against Ilia Topuria No. UFC 317, you will face the dangerous Raphael Fiziev, and the person who guarantees that the duel will be very complicated for the Brazilian is an old acquaintance of the Kyrgyz: Carlos Prates.

In an interview with the channel 'Laerte Viana in the Field – MMA', the Brazilian, Fiziev's former training partner, analyzed the matchup and expressed concern about his rival's explosive style. According to Prates, the only way for Charles to balance the score is to rely on his pressure and ground game, avoiding, at all costs, prolonging the fight standing up.

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"I don't know, I think Charles accepted it in his heart to fight here in Brazil. It's a fight that doesn't make sense. Charles just got knocked out, and Fiziev has a really tough hand. I think Charles's game is to move forward, smother, and grab. If he keeps exchanging blows, Fiziev is tough," he warned.

Carlos Prates He also revealed that he shared the mat with Fiziev for about four years, a time when they both trained at a high level in Muay Thai. The Brazilian was full of praise for his former training partner and highlighted knockout power as the top 10 lightweight's main weapon.

"I trained with Rafael for about four years together. We were friends. He texts me all the time when he's going to fight. He's a nice guy. He doesn't even seem Russian. He's a clown, funny, and different from his Muay Thai days. Everyone knew he was going to the UFC. He moved well and had a very strong hand. He was very powerful, and he would hurt his hand all the time from punching so hard," he said.

Main event on a historic night for Charles do Bronx

The confrontation between Charles of the Bronx e Raphael Fiziev will be the main event the first UFC Fight Night held in Rio de Janeiro in a decade. The card is scheduled to take place at Farmasi Arena and will mark the UFC's 13th visit to the state capital.

The fight was made possible at the request of Charles himself, who expressed his desire to return to Brazil, something that has not happened since March 2020, when he fought in Brasília, in an event without an audience due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

With no belt on the line, the UFC is banking on Do Bronx's charisma to fill the arena and boost the Brazilian market amid a challenging economic climate. Despite coming off a loss, the São Paulo native remains one of the most popular names on the roster, and Farmasi Arena is expected to sell out.

Fiziev, in turn, is experiencing a period of recovery in the octagon. After suffering a setback against Justin gaethje and a serious knee injury, the striker returned in style with a victory over Ignatius Bahamondes, and now he's aiming for a spot in the top 5 with a big win over Charles.