Welterweight fighter Carlos Prates didn`t have to wait long for a new fight after his bout at UFC 314 was canceled.
Instead of a pay-per-view undercard spot, Prates has been elevated to a UFC Fight Night main event, marking a significant step up in his career and competition.
Prates was originally scheduled to face Geoff Neal, a popular matchup for fans, at UFC 314. However, Neal withdrew due to injury just weeks before the event. Prates was then removed from the card without a replacement opponent.
Almost immediately after the news about Neal`s withdrawal, Prates hinted at exciting news regarding his next UFC fight. On Tuesday, the announcement came: Prates will indeed headline an event, much to the excitement of fans.
Carlos Prates Replaces Injured Jamahal Hill in Main Event Against Khalil Rountree Jr.
UFC Kansas City needed a new main event after Jamahal Hill pulled out from his fight with Khalil Rountree Jr. due to an injury. The extent of Hill`s injury is currently unknown, and Rountree is expected to face a new opponent at a later date.
Prates, now available after Neal`s withdrawal, steps in to headline UFC Kansas City against a formidable opponent.
UFC CEO Dana White announced on Tuesday night that Prates will now face Ian Machado Garry in the main event of UFC Kansas City on April 26th. Garry is looking to bounce back after his first professional loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 in December, which he took on short notice.
The matchup between Prates and Garry pits two of the welterweight division`s most promising young fighters against each other, with a potential title shot on the horizon for the winner. Both fighters are known for their striking abilities, highlighted by their recent knockout victories.
Prates previously demonstrated his main event caliber by knocking out Neil Magny in November. Before that, he secured wins against Li Jingliang and Trevin Giles in the UFC, after earning his contract through Dana White’s Contender Series.
Prates vs. Garry to Headline UFC Kansas City
Garry`s UFC wins include victories over Michael ‘Venom’ Page, Daniel Rodriguez, and Neil Magny. Prior to joining the UFC in 2021, Garry was the Cage Warriors welterweight champion, touted as a potential future star from Ireland.
While Garry hasn`t reached the same level of hype as Conor McGregor, he is considered a potential future UFC champion. Garry recently expressed disappointment at not being considered for a title shot against Belal Muhammad and is likely to bring extra motivation into his fight with Prates.
UFC Kansas City will also feature Anthony Smith`s retirement fight, as well as the return of fighters like Ikram Aliskerov, Michel Pereira, and Giga Chikadze.
Benedict Kingsley