The Fighting Nerds team`s impressive undefeated run in the UFC has come to an end, concluding their remarkable 19-fight win streak.
At UFC Kansas City this past Saturday, Carlos Prates suffered his first defeat under the UFC banner. He lost a narrow unanimous decision to Ian Machado Garry in the co-main event.
The day after his fight, Prates took to social media to address the loss, issuing an apology to his fans for his performance.
Leading up to the fight, Prates was reportedly seen smoking cigarettes outside the UFC fighter hotel. Former UFC figure Josh Thomson later suggested that these habits might have played a role in his performance and subsequent loss.
Fighting Nerds Teammates React to Streak-Ending Loss
Carlos Prates is a member of the promising Fighting Nerds team, which also features notable fighters like Caio Borralho, Jean Silva, and Mauricio Ruffy. Until this event, every fighter on the team had maintained an undefeated record in the UFC.
The team`s collective success and perfect records had earned them significant support from fans, with many viewing individual members as potential future champions in the promotion.
However, Prates` loss on Saturday night marked the first blemish on the team`s UFC record, shifting their combined standing to 19-1.
Reacting to the loss on his Instagram story, teammate Caio Borralho expressed gratitude for the fan support. “I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of the love that you guys come to our team and to everybody, to Carlos, to everybody,” Borralho said. He continued, acknowledging the setback, “Carlos is good, we take this loss as a man and we know that we always grew up after a hard loss like that. And I think we’re going to go back, we’re going to do what we do best, that is study this game, and we’re going to come back better.” Borralho also extended congratulations and respect to Ian Garry and Chute Boxe.
Jean Silva also shared his reaction, defiantly stating, “F— it, we are a family and we will be champions together, and we will get through this together. And those of you who are already criticizing, go f— yourself! I AM the nightmare EVEN IN ANOTHER LIFE.”
What`s Next for Prates After His First UFC Loss?
Having missed the chance to potentially enter the welterweight division`s top 10 rankings, Prates will now need to regroup and determine his next opponent.
A logical step following this defeat might be to reschedule his previously planned fight against Geoff Neal, provided Neal is ready to return to the Octagon. Neal is currently ranked #10 in the division, which would still offer Prates an opportunity to break into the top rankings should he secure a bounce-back win.
Rupert Hartwell