Carlos Prates has strongly criticized Ian Machado Garry for failing to finish a UFC opponent whom Prates himself stopped quickly within the first round.
Following an impressive year in the UFC with four consecutive knockout victories, Carlos Prates is set for his first fight of 2025, once again headlining an event.
The fighter known as “The Fighting Nerd” is scheduled to face the #7-ranked welterweight contender Ian Machado Garry in the five-round main event at UFC Kansas City this Saturday.
Tensions are rising between Machado Garry and Prates ahead of their upcoming bout. The Irishman recently called Prates a “fake fighter” regarding a loss that occurred over eight years ago.
Prates has since fired back, criticizing Machado Garry`s perceived “boring” fighting style and pointing out that his UFC record contains more decision wins than knockouts.Prates Questions Garry`s Inability to Finish Injured Neil Magny
Prates and Machado Garry share one common opponent: longtime welterweight contender Neil Magny.
Throughout much of his career, Magny has often been labeled a `gatekeeper` for the division, serving as a tough test for rising contenders, promising prospects, and even former champions looking to climb the rankings.
In 2023, at UFC 292, Machado Garry dominated Magny, severely damaging his left leg with numerous leg kicks over the first two rounds. Magny was visibly hobbled and in pain, struggling to stand with each kick Garry threw.
Although Garry had Magny clearly hurt in the third round and even swept his injured leg from underneath him, he could not secure a finish in the otherwise dominant performance.Prates was dismissive of Garry`s performance on his YouTube channel:
“The guy stayed two rounds with Neil Magny against the cage and couldn’t knock him out.”
“Magny with a bruised leg…”
“Neil Magny… with no leg, and he says he`s going to knock me out.”
“That`s crazy,” Prates stated regarding Garry`s knockout claims. “No way.”
Carlos Prates Finished Neil Magny in the First Round
More than a year after his fight with Garry, Magny faced Carlos Prates in the main event of UFC Vegas 100 last November.
Maintaining his impressive streak of never needing a third round in his UFC career, Prates needed less than one round to dispatch of Magny.
In the closing seconds of the first round, the Brazilian landed a powerful shot to the head that dropped Magny, securing a walk-off knockout. This was Prates` sixth consecutive victory by knockout.
Following this loss, Neil Magny was removed from the UFC welterweight rankings for the first time in a while, with Carlos Prates taking his place.
Now ranked #13, Prates believes another impressive finish, this time against Ian Machado Garry this Saturday, could significantly move him closer to a title shot.
Rupert Hartwell