UFC welterweight contender Carlos Prates received some unexpected and rather direct fighting advice from his mother just days before his upcoming main event in Kansas City.
Carlos Prates is recognized as one of the promising talents emerging in the UFC`s welterweight ranks. This weekend, he is set to headline a UFC event for the second time in his relatively young career, where he will face Ian Machado Garry in Kansas City.
Prates was initially scheduled to return to the Octagon earlier this month at UFC 314 against Geoff Neal, but Neal was forced to withdraw due to an injury. Instead of finding Prates a last-minute opponent for UFC 314, the promotion elevated him to the main event slot opposite Garry for the Kansas City card.
While Prates has appeared largely comfortable and successful in his UFC appearances so far, his mother back in Brazil still harbors concerns.
Mother`s Direct Advice for the Main Event
Prates is one of several notable fighters from the Fighting Nerds MMA gym in Brazil, a group that also includes rising featherweight star Jean Silva and surging middleweight Caio Borralho. All three fighters have demonstrated dominant performances in the Octagon and are nearing potential title shot opportunities.
Leading up to arguably the most significant fight of Prates’s career, he received some pointed words of encouragement from his mother.
During a recent segment on ESPN’s UFC Journey series, Prates was surprised by a call from his mother, who earnestly requested that he aim for a quick finish.
“Don’t give the opponent a chance to play too much. Do you understand? And finish the war quickly,” Prates’s mother advised.
She added, “The way mommy likes it, with a perfect finishing touch!”
Fortunately for his mother`s nerves, Prates is known for finishing his opponents efficiently, as seen in his recent wins over Li Jingliang and Neil Magny. However, Ian Machado Garry presents a formidable challenge for the ascendant Prates, and a noticeable animosity has been developing between the two fighters heading into their bout.
The Growing Rivalry Between Garry and Prates
The pre-fight verbal exchange was initiated by Garry, who referred to the Brazilian as ‘not a fighter’ when discussing the UFC Kansas City matchup. Prates was quick to respond, counter-accusing Garry of being a ‘fake fighter’.
Prates intensified the back-and-forth by sharing a candid perspective on why this is only now Garry’s first UFC main event. He also specifically criticized Garry for failing to secure a finish against a reportedly compromised Neil Magny when they met at UFC 292.
Tensions continue to escalate as UFC Kansas City approaches, with both Garry and Prates potentially looking to deliver a spectacular finishing performance to solidify their claims for a future title shot.
Rupert Hartwell