The Only Trending Fighting Nerds Now

The UFC has always been a place where storylines shift fast. Fighters rise, trends fade, and new waves take over the sport almost overnight.

A couple of years ago, a new wave began to catch attention: the Fighting Nerds, a group of technical, analytical athletes who relied on precision, strategy, and intelligence over raw aggression.

Fans believed that this group would eventually rule the UFC across multiple divisions.

The hype was real. Analysts praised their style. Fans considered them the future. But over time, expectations met reality.

Fighter after fighter struggled to maintain momentum, and results didn’t always match predictions.

Two major moments contributed to the downfall of the “Fighting Nerds” hype:

• Caio Borralho’s unexpected defeat
• Jena Silva’s loss, which further lowered excitement around the trend

These losses caused many to question whether this new wave truly had the power to dominate the UFC.

But interestingly, in the middle of the hype falling apart, one fighter kept the entire identity alive, a fighter who not only maintained his momentum but started trending even more after the downfall of others.

His name is Carlos Prates.

Today, Prates is the fighter fans point to when they discuss the evolution of high-IQ striking combined with knockout power.

He is the one fighter from the Fighting Nerds group who has proven he belongs at the top.

With two huge wins over respected opponents, many believe he might be closer to a title shot than ever.

This article breaks down why Carlos Prates is the last trending Fighting Nerd standing, how he revived the hype, what makes him different, why some fans think he deserves a title shot, and why he might still need one more big win before facing Islam Makhachev.

Understanding the Rise of the Fighting Nerds

The concept of “Fighting Nerds” wasn’t created by accident. This group was characterised by:

• Analytical fight styles
• High fight IQ
• Strong fundamentals
• Technical striking and grappling
• Intelligence-driven game planning

Unlike the classic brawlers who rely on power or toughness, these fighters built their styles around study, timing, and smart decision-making.

They were confident that reading their opponents was the key to victory.

For a while, it worked. Caio Borralho was rising fast. Jena Silva looked like a future title contender. Fans and analysts predicted that this trend would take over divisions.

But MMA is unpredictable. One fight can change everything. And when expectations rise too high too fast, disappointments hit harder.

The Hype Begins to Die Down

When Caio Borralho lost, it marked the first big hit to the Fighting Nerd storyline.

Caio was considered one of the most technical rising middleweights, and many believed he was close to contending for the top 10.

His loss reshaped his narrative and weakened the broader trend.

Then came Jena Silva’s defeat, which created even more doubt.

Fans who once believed the technical wave would dominate were suddenly questioning whether the movement was overrated.

Social media began shifting. Memes replaced hype. Analysts stopped predicting quick rises. The trend didn’t disappear, but it definitely lost momentum.

However, there was one major exception. One fighter refused to slow down.

Carlos Prates: The Fighter Who Saved the Trend

Among all the fighters associated with this trend, Carlos Prates is the only one still rising. He didn’t just maintain hype; he increased it through results, aggression, and strong performances.

Carlos Prates had already gained attention before the Fighting Nerd hype started collapsing.

His style felt different from the others because, while he did share the IQ-heavy approach, he also brought something extra:

devastating knockout power.

This combination smart fighting plus finishing ability is what fans love most. And it’s exactly what helped Prates stand out when others failed to maintain momentum.

Prates vs. Ian Machado Garry: The Close Defeat That Changed Everything

Before Carlos Prates started gaining massive attention, he faced Ian Machado Garry, one of the most talked-about welterweights in the UFC.

Many predicted Garry would win comfortably. But when the fight happened, it was surprisingly close.

Prates didn’t just survive; he stood toe-to-toe with one of the most hyped fighters in the division.

Even though Prates lost the fight, the performance boosted his reputation. Fans saw him as more than just another technical fighter.

They saw him as someone who could handle pressure and match up against the top welterweights.

This loss wasn’t a setback; it was the start of his rise.

The Comeback: Two Huge Knockouts That Changed the Division

After his close loss to Garry, Carlos Prates entered a stage where every fight mattered. And he made sure to deliver results that shocked the division.

Prates returned with two massive victories:

1. Knockout Win Over Geoff Neal

Geoff Neal is no easy opponent. He is one of the most dangerous punchers in the welterweight division, known for his toughness, experience, and sharp boxing.

Carlos Prates not only defeated Neal—
He knocked him out.

This victory made fans pay attention because Neal rarely gets finished, especially by striking. It showed that Prates could dominate elite fighters and do it in impressive fashion.

2. Knockout Win Over Former Champion Leon Edwards

This was the fight that changed everything.

Leon Edwards is a former UFC Welterweight Champion, a fighter known for his precision, counterstriking, and exceptional defence.

Few expected Prates to win, and even fewer expected a finish.

Not only did Prates beat him—
He knocked him out cold.

This became the biggest win of his career. Finishing as a former champion put Carlos Prates in discussions that no one expected so soon:

• Title contention
• Top 5 matchups
• Eliminator opportunities

Fans began comparing him to the best knockout artists in the division. Analysts began taking him seriously as a potential future champion.

He went from “the smart fighter” to “the knockout machine” almost overnight.

Should Carlos Prates Get a Title Shot?

After beating Leon Edwards, many fans began pushing for Carlos Prates to get a title shot against the current welterweight champion, Islam Makhachev.

But the situation is more complicated than it looks.

Why Some Fans Think He Deserves It

• He just knocked out a former champion.
• He has the most momentum in the division.
• He is trending across social media.
• He offers a fresh matchup for Islam Makhachev.
• His style, smart striking with KO power, is exciting for the division.

From a marketing angle, Prates is more popular now than ever, and trending fighters often get fast title shots.

But UFC matchmaking isn’t just about hype.

Why Carlos Prates Might Not Get the Shot Yet

In reality, the UFC usually requires one thing:

Consistency over multiple big wins.

Prates has looked incredible, but two knockout wins are not always enough to secure a title shot in a stacked division.

Here are the reasons the UFC might delay it:

1. He still needs one more top contender to win

Beating a former champion is huge, but the UFC often wants fighters to defeat someone currently at the top of the rankings.

A win against someone like:

• Shavkat Rakhmonov
• Belal Muhammad
• Colby Covington
• Sean Brady

…would push him into undeniable title shot territory.

2. Islam Makhachev just moved into the division

The UFC wants to build storylines around Islam’s move to welterweight. Giving him a challenger with more established elite-level wins might make for a stronger promotional angle.

3. Carlos Prates is still rising

The UFC might prefer Prates to gain even more momentum before a title shot. One more highlight reel finish could turn him into a superstar.

The Fight Carlos Prates Needs Next

To secure a title shot, Prates likely needs one more big fight. The ideal matchup would be someone ranked in the top 5, preferably a fighter known for toughness and name recognition.

Potential matchups that make sense:

• Carlos Prates vs. Belal Muhammad
• Carlos Prates vs. Colby Covington
• Carlos Prates vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov
• Carlos Prates vs. Gilbert Burns
• Carlos Prates vs. Sean Brady

Any of these would not only test him but also prove once again that he can finish elite competitors.

If Prates wins one of these fights, especially by knockout again, the UFC will have no choice but to give him a title shot.

Does Carlos Prates Have the Talent to Defeat Islam Makhachev?

Many believe he does.

Prates brings a unique combination of qualities:

• Long reach
• Sharp striking fundamentals
• Smart decision-making
• Strong counterpunching
• High pressure when necessary
• Ability to mix IQ and finishing power

Makhachev, on the other hand, is known for:

• Heavy top control
• Technical wrestling
• Smart pressure
• Great defense
• Improved striking power

This creates a classic striker vs. grappler dynamic but with nuance.

Prates is not just a striker. He is a thinker, a reader, and a fighter with discipline. His timing and fight IQ could create problems for anyone, including Makhachev.

If he gets one more fight and enters the title shot with momentum, confidence, and more experience, he absolutely has the talent to defeat Islam Makhachev.

Why Carlos Prates Is Still the Only Trending Fighting Nerd

When people say “the Fighting Nerd hype is dead,” they forget that the trend is alive because of one fighter.

Carlos Prates represents everything that made fans excited about the original idea:

• Intelligence
• Strategy
• Technical skill
• Adaptability
• Confidence
• Finishing ability

What makes him stand out is that he combines those qualities with brutal knockout power. That’s something the other Fighting Nerds couldn’t consistently showcase.

While Caio Borralho and Jena Silva’s losses slowed the momentum, Prates picked it back up and made it stronger than ever.

• He is the reason the concept still exists.
• He is the one carrying the trend forward.
• He is the only Fighting Nerd who is still trending today.

Conclusion

Carlos Prates stands at a unique point in his career. He has built a reputation as the one fighter who revived the Fighting Nerd identity when it was fading.

His impressive knockouts over Geoff Neal and former champion Leon Edwards have placed him on the doorstep of title contention.

While a direct title shot against Islam Makhachev is unlikely at this exact moment, one more dominant win can make it unavoidable.

Based on what we’ve seen, Prates absolutely has the tools to challenge and possibly defeat the champion.

In a world where hype changes quickly, Carlos Prates has become the steady force that keeps the trend alive. Whether he becomes champion or not, he has already proven one thing:

He is the real deal—and the only trending Fighting Nerds standing tall in the UFC today.