Carlos Prates had a rare choice in front of him: lean into the biggest name in the sport or stay on course toward a title shot. At a time when Conor McGregor hasn’t fought since 2021, and questions still surround his return, the UFC reportedly explored the idea of matching him with one of the welterweight division’s fastest-rising contenders.

For Prates, who is 6-1 in the promotion and coming off a vicious knockout of Leon Edwards at UFC 322, that kind of opportunity could have fast-tracked his visibility overnight. But instead of chasing the moment, he chose the matchup that moves him closer to gold. And when he finally addressed the McGregor rumors, his response was honest and a little telling about how he views both the fight and his own position in the promotion right now.

Speaking to Ariel Helwani recently, Prates addressed the rumors head-on. When asked about reports that McGregor may have accepted a potential fight, he pushed back on that narrative.

“I don’t think he accepted,” Prates said. “I heard like he said yes. But, you know, five years without fights, without compete. So I don’t think it’s too smart of him to accept the fight against me, and I don’t think so. But you know, it’s in the past. Now I’m focused on JDM, and I can’t wait to go to Australia and get my title shot.”

Prates didn’t dismiss the opportunity out of ego. He actually showed respect for what it represents. Despite his inactivity and doubts about his return to the cage, McGregor is still the biggest draw in MMA, and a fight against him changes everything financially and globally. Yet, ‘The Nightmare’ made it clear that timing matters more than name value. Right now, his focus is on Jack Della Maddalena.

The fight, scheduled for May 2 at UFC Fight Night 275 in Perth, could very well be a title eliminator. JDM sits at the top of the welterweight rankings as the former champion. A win there doesn’t just boost Prates; it likely puts him one fight away from a championship opportunity.

And that’s the difference. A McGregor fight brings attention. A JDM win brings legitimacy. So while the idea of facing ‘The Notorious’ might still linger as a “what if,” Carlos Prates has already moved on. And according to recent reports, even a Nate Diaz trilogy might be off the table for the Irishman.

Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz’s trilogy might never happen inside the Octagon

For years, a trilogy fight between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz has felt inevitable. They’re 1-1, both fights were massive, and even today, few matchups carry that kind of built-in history. But recent developments suggest that the door, at least inside the UFC, is no longer open.

After Diaz booked his return against Mike Perry on May 16 under the MVP banner, reports quickly followed that the UFC had explored bringing him back. The idea of a third fight with McGregor was discussed behind the scenes. But according to insider Luke Thomas, that possibility has now taken a serious blow.

“Not just this, but the way I heard it, Diaz taking this fight closes the door on a UFC return completely,” Thomas wrote on X. “So, whatever Diaz is making or planning for future fights, he’s doing so knowing there’s no UFC homecoming possible now.”

The Stockton legend is now aligned with a different promotion, stepping into a five-round fight against Perry, while also building his own ventures outside the UFC. Conor McGregor, on the other hand, is still tied to the promotion and reportedly targeting a return later this year, possibly during International Fight Week. And just like the Carlos Prates matchup, this becomes another “what if” in McGregor’s comeback story with one more big fight that made sense on paper, but never quite lined up at the right time.