Ian Machado Garry has fully immersed himself in Brazilian culture since relocating to train with the renowned Chute Boxe team. He feels this adoption of the culture has been reciprocated by the country, which he believes supports him.
The Irish welterweight anticipates that the Brazilian public will be rooting for him in his upcoming UFC Kansas City main event clash against Carlos Prates this Saturday. Garry contrasts this with Prates, who he notes still relies on foreign comforts, stating that he himself has completely embraced all aspects of Brazil and wouldn`t change a thing.
“Look, this guy smokes American cigarettes and drinks Irish whiskey,” Garry commented on Prates during UFC Kansas City media day. “Meanwhile, I`m here in Brazil enjoying açaí and paçoquinha. I am more Brazilian than he is. His entire country wants me to win.”
Garry`s remarks highlighting his affinity for Brazil were prompted by a question regarding Prates` public admission of regularly smoking cigarettes before and after his bouts.
Although these habits haven`t seemed to hinder Prates` performance in the UFC so far, evidenced by his four knockout victories in his first four appearances, Garry made it clear that he would never conduct himself in a similar manner.
“That`s his personal choice,” Garry stated. “And it`s not something I need to concern myself with. He`s free to live his life as he sees fit, and everyone can discuss it. However, come Saturday night, he`ll be stepping into the octagon with a true professional.
I`m going to dominate him in every possible way. I will control the fight, and there`s absolutely nothing he will be able to do to prevent it.”
Garry also commented on earlier statements he made about Prates, specifically calling him a “quitter” after viewing one of Prates` fights from before he joined the UFC.
This comment provoked a strong reaction from Prates, but Garry dismissed his opponent`s response. According to Garry, his statement was simply an analysis of a past fight, and Prates cannot dispute what occurred during that bout.
“My job involves studying my opponents and watching their fights,” Garry explained. “I analyze them. Look, his team is even called the Fighting Nerds; they do the same analysis. But they`ve never seen me quit in a fight. So, when I watched him put his hand up, wave at the referee, and say `I`m done,` it was something I had never witnessed before in MMA.
That incident also revealed the true nature of Carlos Prates. When faced with adversity, he quits. And on Saturday night, I intend to put him in that exact situation where he will have to decide whether to quit again.”
Despite the considerable attention and hype surrounding Prates since his UFC debut, Garry asserts that he represents by far the most challenging opponent the Brazilian fighter has encountered.
Conversely, Garry feels this comparison doesn`t hold true when examining his own fighting record and the caliber of opposition he has faced in the UFC, contrasting it with Prates` achievements to date.
“My goal is to prove I`m the best against any opponent, and I believe Carlos is a decent fighter,” Garry stated. “However, when I compare him to my previous opponents, I don`t see him as being as unpredictable as Michael ‘Venom’ Page, or as fast as MVP. He`s not as well-rounded as Shavkat Rakhmonov, and given my reach and height, he lacks the specific stylistic challenges that Geoff Neal presented. In my view, this is an opportunity for me to demonstrate clearly that I am on a significantly higher level than him.”
While Prates has compiled an impressive collection of highlights in his initial four UFC appearances, Garry indicates he won`t be truly impressed unless he witnesses something genuinely exceptional.
Based on his assessment of Prates and his abilities, Garry clearly believes he hasn`t seen that special quality yet.
Garry concluded by saying, “This opponent is a one-dimensional fighter. He relies heavily on his left hand, left knee, and left leg – essentially everything is from one side. I, however, possess all the necessary tools. I can defeat him in every aspect of this fight, for every moment, and that`s precisely what I intend to do this Saturday night.”
