Ian Machado Garry claims he deliberately chose not to finish a particular opponent whom he shares in common with Carlos Prates.
The Irish welterweight competitor has seen his last four fights go the distance, including his first professional defeat which occurred in his previous outing against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310.
Stepping in on short notice, Ian Machado Garry is set to compete in the main event of UFC Kansas City this Saturday, facing off against the dangerous knockout artist Carlos Prates. Prates has reportedly expressed disapproval of Machado Garry`s fighting style, labeling it `boring`.
Following his bonus-winning headkick knockout of Daniel Rodriguez in May 2023, the 27-year-old has consistently fought to decisions. This trend began with a dominant three-round victory over seasoned contender Neil Magny.
Unlike Carlos Prates, Ian Machado Garry Opted Not to Finish Neil Magny
In contrast, Prates swiftly defeated Neil Magny within the first round at UFC Vegas 100 last November, securing his tenth consecutive knockout.
Carlos Prates, known as `The Fighting Nerds`, was critical of Machado Garry`s inability to finish Magny, especially considering Magny was reportedly struggling on one leg during their UFC 292 encounter.
Machado Garry argues that Magny was a diminished version of himself when he faced Prates, having been thoroughly beaten by Machado Garry in 2023 and also stopped by Michael Morales via first-round TKO just months before UFC Vegas 100.
“Neil Magny is like my son now,” Machado Garry stated regarding Prates` recent victory, according to an interview with UFC.com.
“I took away his essence as a fighter. I possess it now.
“If you witnessed that fight, he hasn’t seemed the same since.”
“The entire world recognizes the significant difference in skill level between Neil Magny and myself because I absolutely dominated him. I believe the judges` scorecards reflected something like 30-24.”
“It was my choice not to finish that man,” Machado Garry elaborated. “I moved through him effortlessly, and this Saturday evening, I plan to deliver a similar performance against Carlos Prates.”
Ian Machado Garry Finds Enjoyment in the ‘Mental Warfare’ of Extended Bouts
Expressing a desire for a five-round display of dominance over Prates, Machado Garry detailed his specific perspective on competitive fighting.
While many appreciate a swift knockout, and Machado Garry himself has seven on his record, his true satisfaction comes from clearly proving his superiority over opponents and enjoying the process.
“I don’t seek out short fights,” Machado Garry explained.
“It’s not my primary aim to just knock someone out. I find pleasure in the psychological battle of overpowering someone over twenty minutes. If I could execute it perfectly according to my preference, I’d want to completely wear down my opponent for twenty-four minutes and then secure a finish in the final minute. That aligns with my personality.”
“I don’t ever want my opponent to have the excuse that a win was a fluke, like `oh, it was just a lucky kick.` My mindset is, `What about the twenty-four minutes leading up to that?` That’s my perspective.”
“When you look at a fight like Max Holloway versus Justin Gaethje, that`s the type of fight I appreciate. That’s what a fight should be…”
He continued.
“Walking out and getting an immediate knockout? Sure, it’s good. Impressive. Nice job.”
“Ultimately, I want to have fun,” Machado Garry said regarding his approach to fighting.
“My objective is to step into that Octagon and clearly demonstrate that I am on a completely different level than whoever is across from me. This Saturday night, the question will be simply how long Carlos Prates can withstand it.”
In his previous fight at UFC 310, Ian Machado Garry came close to finishing the previously undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov, attempting a rear-naked choke in the fourth round before the fight went to a decision.
Rupert Hartwell