Ian Machado Garry delivered a masterful five-round performance, overcoming a brief late challenge to defeat Carlos Prates in the UFC Kansas City main event.
Garry showcased superior movement and striking throughout the bout, constantly keeping Prates off-balance and outworking him on the feet. He also effectively incorporated takedowns, preventing Prates from establishing a consistent rhythm until the final moments.
Prates finally landed some significant shots late in the fight, including powerful ground and pound in the last round. However, it proved to be too little, too late. The judges scored the contest 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46, awarding Garry a unanimous decision victory.
“I know how dangerous that man is. I have nothing but respect for him. I said it to him after the fight, he’s Brazilian — half of my soul is Brazilian. My name is Machado Garry. I want to see all these Brazilians go to the top and that man hits like a truck.”
— Ian Machado Garry on Carlos Prates
Garry moved constantly to evade Prates` power punches, frequently employing right high kicks to manage the distance and counter Prates` dangerous left hand. Towards the end of the first round, a slip by Prates sent him to the canvas, allowing Garry to land a hard punch that opened a small cut beneath his eye.
As Garry settled into his rhythm and grew more comfortable in striking exchanges, Prates struggled to generate significant offense. His low activity allowed Garry to selectively land strikes, including a clean right hand and an inside elbow.
Garry`s performance on the feet was clinical, keeping Prates guessing with movement and mixing in occasional takedown attempts. Prates didn`t begin throwing his characteristic kicks until deep in the third round, but they lacked the power to significantly disrupt Garry.
Continuing his offense, Garry connected with a sharp uppercut that visibly snapped Prates` head back. Garry followed up aggressively, securing a brief takedown before the fight quickly returned to standing.
Garry continued to blend in takedown attempts, seemingly looking to drain Prates` energy. He consistently landed combinations of three or four strikes, while Prates primarily returned fire with single shots.
Late in the fourth round, Prates finally landed a solid punch that caught Garry`s attention. Garry appeared momentarily staggered, and Prates pressed forward, attempting to find a finishing blow.
This led to a late takedown reversal by Prates, who unleashed powerful ground and pound. However, Garry remained evasive as the round ended. Afterwards, Garry asserted that he was never in serious trouble but acknowledged Prates` finishing power.
“I was completely in control. I just wanted to be smart and safe and not do something stupid because that can happen in these types of fights. The guy’s a legend. I appreciate him. He’s been on a tear but I told everyone what I was going to do, I was going to outclass him and I believe I did that.”
— Ian Machado Garry
This victory gets Garry back on track after his previous loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov. He hopes this win re-establishes him in the division, and he plans to attend UFC 315 in Montreal to watch the main event between champion Belal Muhammad and challenger Jack Della Maddalena closely.
Following the win, Garry made his intentions clear:
“This is what’s next for me. 21 days’ notice against Shavkat [Rakhmonov]. 25 days’ notice against this man tonight. He’s a beast. Well, in two weeks’ time, I’m flying to Canada. I’m the official backup for the world title fight and I’m next in line for that world title!”
— Ian Machado Garry
