Ian Machado Garry once again proved his mettle in the welterweight division, securing a hard-fought five-round decision victory over the formidable Carlos Prates in the recent UFC Kansas City main event. However, the fight wasn`t without its moments of concern, particularly in the fifth round where Prates came close to ending the contest. This raises questions: should fans be worried about Garry`s late-fight vulnerability, and does this performance solidify his claim for a title opportunity, or does he need another challenge first?
In a brand new installment of the `On To the Next One` series, MMA Fighting`s Mike Heck and Alexander K. Lee dive deep into the outcomes of UFC Kansas City and speculate on what`s next for the night`s notable fighters. They analyze Garry`s situation, including his announced intention to serve as a backup for the welterweight championship clash between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315. Beyond Garry, the discussion covers potential future opponents for Zhang Mingyang, fresh off his stoppage win that led to Anthony Smith`s retirement; featherweight prospect David Onama; Randy Brown, following his stunning knockout that`s a contender for `Knockout of the Year` against Nicolas Dalby; plus potential matchups in the middleweight division for fighters like Abus Magomedov and Ikram Aliskerov. The conversation even extends to a highly anticipated, albeit hypothetical, bout involving Eddie Hall.
