Welterweight contender Ian Machado Garry is brimming with confidence as he prepares to face Carlos Prates, a rising star in the division.
The UFC officially announced on Tuesday that Garry will headline UFC Kansas City on April 26 against Prates. This welterweight clash replaces the original main event between Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr., which was cancelled due to undisclosed reasons.
Garry is currently ranked No. 6 in the welterweight division. While Prates is unranked, he has quickly become a fighter to watch after an impressive UFC debut year in 2024, where he secured four victories, all by knockout, earning Performance of the Night bonuses in each fight.
Following the announcement of their bout, Garry took to Instagram to send a clear message to Prates.
“I’m excited,” Garry stated. “The UFC needed a main event fighter, and they called me because I’m a true fighter who wants to compete against the best. I’m going to demonstrate my skills to everyone. Carlos Prates is a great fighter, but this is my world. Fighting is my greatest passion.”
“Kansas City, get ready! Fans in Ireland and Brazil, book your tickets and flights!” Garry exclaimed.
Similar to Prates, Garry started his UFC career with an impressive undefeated streak, winning his first eight fights before facing Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 last December. Rakhmonov defeated Garry by decision, but the competitive fight didn`t diminish Garry`s standing, and he now aims to halt Prates` momentum.
Prates, who trains with the Fighting Nerds team alongside notable fighters like Caio Borralho, Mauricio Ruffy, and Jean Silva, is currently on an 11-fight winning streak. In his most recent fight last November, “The Nightmare” impressively knocked out veteran welterweight Neil Magny in the first round.
