Ian Machado Garry eagerly accepted a short-notice opportunity to headline against the rising star Carlos Prates at UFC Kansas City.
Carlos Prates, after an impressive streak in the UFC, was originally scheduled to fight veteran Geoff Neal at UFC 314. However, Neal had to withdraw from the match.
It appeared that Prates might have to wait for a new opponent, as few welterweights were eager to face him.
Despite this, Ian Machado Garry seized the chance to fight Prates when the main event slot for UFC Kansas City was offered.
Machado Garry Sends a Strong Message to Prates
Garry, feeling overlooked for a welterweight title shot after Shavkat Rakhmonov withdrew from a fight with champion Belal Muhammad (despite Garry`s previous loss to Rakhmonov at UFC 310), now sees the fight with Prates as a potential title eliminator.
The Irish fighter has issued a strong warning to Prates, asserting earlier in the week that Prates is not a “real fighter.”
“I am going to show everyone on April 26th against Carlos Prates that there are different levels in this sport,” Machado Garry stated in a Sky Sports interview.
“Nobody will anticipate what I am going to do to him. I will completely dominate and outclass him. He won`t be able to do anything to stop me.”
“I will knock him out cold, leave him unconscious, and then I will move on to fight for the belt. That’s my plan,” he added.
Carlos Prates Aims to Continue Impressive Run
Carlos Prates, known as “The Nightmare,” is part of a group of successful fighters known as the “Fighting Nerds” who are making waves in the UFC and quickly gaining a large fanbase.
The 31-year-old is known for his exciting fighting style and his unique personality, including admitting to smoking at least ten cigarettes daily.
Despite his smoking habits, Prates remains undefeated in his first four UFC fights, along with his teammates Caio Borralho, Jean Silva, and Mauricio Ruffy, who are also undefeated in the UFC.
A victory over Garry could significantly fast-track Prates towards a title shot in the 170lb division.
Rupert Hartwell