Ian Machado Garry has truly immersed himself in Brazilian culture since relocating there to train with the renowned Chute Boxe team, and he feels the country has embraced him in return.
The Irish welterweight contender even anticipates the Brazilian fans will support him in his upcoming UFC Kansas City main event fight against Carlos Prates this Saturday. While Prates reportedly finds his main indulgences elsewhere, Garry emphasizes that he has fully embraced everything Brazil has offered him and wouldn`t change a thing.
“Look, the 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`m genuinely more Brazilian than he is. I have the entire country rooting for me.”
Garry`s expression of affection for Brazil came about when he was questioned regarding Prates` public admission of regularly smoking cigarettes before and after his bouts.
Although these habits haven`t seemed to hinder Prates` success in the UFC so far, given his four knockouts in four promotional appearances, Garry stated he would never conduct himself in that manner.
“That`s his personal life choice,” Garry remarked. “It`s not something I need to interfere with. He`s free to live his life as he sees fit, and we can all discuss it. But ultimately, come Saturday night, he steps into the octagon against someone who is a true professional.
I intend to completely control him in every aspect and form I choose. I will manipulate him, and there will be nothing he can do to prevent it.”
Garry also brought up previous comments he made about Prates, specifically calling him a “quitter” after viewing one of his earlier fights from before he signed with the UFC.
This comment provoked a strong reaction from Prates, but Garry appears unconcerned by his opponent`s response. Garry maintains he was simply providing analysis on one of Prates` previous bouts and that the opponent cannot dispute the factual events.
“I make sure to study my opponents and watch their fights,” Garry stated. “I analyze them. Look, his team is even called the `Fighting Nerds` – they do the same. They`ve never seen me quit in a fight. So when I observed that, seeing him raise his hand, signal to the referee, and say `I`m done,` it was something I had never witnessed before in MMA.”
“That revealed Carlos Prates` true nature,” Garry added. “He quits when things get difficult. On Saturday night, I intend to put him in that exact situation where he will have to make the choice whether to quit.”
Despite the significant hype and attention surrounding Prates since his arrival in the UFC, Garry asserts that he represents the toughest challenge the Brazilian fighter has encountered to date.
The inverse, Garry suggests, is not true when comparing his own resume and the caliber of opposition he has faced in the UFC against Prates` accomplishments thus far.
“I aim to prove I`m the best against any opponent, and I believe Carlos fits that category,” Garry stated. “However, comparing him to my previous opponents, I don`t find him as unorthodox as Michael `Venom` Page, nor as quick as MVP. He`s also not as versatile as Shavkat Rakhmonov. Furthermore, given my own length and height, he doesn`t present the kind of stylistic challenge that Geoff Neal did. In my view, this is an opportunity to demonstrate clearly that I am simply operating on a completely different level.”
While Prates has compiled an impressive highlight reel across his initial four UFC fights, Garry remains unimpressed and awaits seeing something truly exceptional.
Based on his assessment of Prates and his skills, Garry clearly feels that moment hasn`t arrived yet.
“He strikes me as a one-dimensional fighter,” Garry claimed. “He relies on his left hand, left knee, and left leg – essentially all his tools are on one side. I, on the other hand, possess everything necessary. I am confident I can defeat him in any area and for every moment of this fight, and that`s precisely what I will do on Saturday night.”
