Despite split with Fighting Nerds, Carlos Prates has no hard feelings for Mauricio Ruffy

Despite parting ways with the Fighting Nerds training collective, Carlos Prates has maintained respect for his former teammate Mauricio Ruffy. The São Paulo-based Fighting Nerds, which also included Jean Silva and Caio Borralho under coach Pablo Sucupira, became known for rising through the UFC ranks together while sporting their signature nerd-glasses branding. Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Prates described Ruffy as smart and intelligent, expressing no animosity over the split. Prates even praised Ruffy's upcoming fight against Chandler, reflecting the goodwill between them despite the team's dissolution. The separation comes after Ruffy had a falling out with Jean Silva, with Silva confirming near the end of last year that they were no longer friends. While training partnerships sometimes end acrimoniously in MMA, Prates' public stance suggests the Fighting Nerds' breakup has left at least some members on good terms.