(Josh Hedges via Getty Images)
Ian Machado Garry is one banana-peel slip away from challenging for the UFC welterweight title.
The Irish welterweight edged out Carlos Prates on Saturday in the main event of UFC Kansas City, winning a unanimous decision and becoming the first man to derail the undefeated Octagon run of Prates’ Fighting Nerds team, which had previously been 24-0 across both the UFC and Contender Series.
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Garry (16-1) ultimately captured scores of 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46 in a competitive bout, after which he announced his intentions to serve as the official backup fighter for the May 10 title fight between champion Belal Muhammad and challenger Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 in Montreal, Canada.
“This is what’s next for me: 21 days’ notice against Shavkat [Rakhmonov], 25 days’ notice against this man tonight. He’s a beast,” Garry proclaimed. “Well, in two weeks’ time, I’m flying to Canada [for UFC 315], I’m the official backup for the world title fight, and I’m next in line for that world title.”
Garry, 27, entered the night looking to rebound after suffering his first professional loss in a short-notice replacement fight against Rakhmonov this past December at UFC 310 — during which Garry became the first fighter to ever push the feared contender to the scorecards. Prior to that, Garry rattled off a flawless 8-0 run to start his UFC career, including big wins over Geoff Neal, Michael Page and Neil Magny.
But despite that pressure, Garry looked like his normal patient self on Saturday, keeping the power-punching Prates (21-7) at bay with long jabs and a steady stream of kicks to the head and body. Prates appeared to be frustrated by Garry’s length and movement, as he connected on 12 or fewer strikes in each of the first four rounds. Garry also mixed in takedown attempts with dogged persistence, and though Prates fended them off well early, the Irishman’s tenacity paid off as the rounds wore on; Prates gave up four takedowns in the bout’s final 15 minutes, further keeping him off-balance.
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Prates finally found some success with his offense in the closing minutes of Round 4, catching Garry with several hard counters in a desperate attempt to rally. Prates carried that momentum in the fifth round and swept into top control off a failed Garry takedown attempt, then slammed down a heavy barrage of ground-and-pound. Garry gamely survived, however, and ended the bout back on his feet.
Garry ultimately out-landed Prates by 126-63 in significant strikes and 141-64 in total strikes.
“[I was] not hurt enough to [not] know where I was,” Garry said of that final salvo. “I was conscious of every moment and how dangerous that man is. I have nothing but respect for everything him and his team do.
“[But] I was completely in control. Just wanted be smart and safe 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.”
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Garry now moves to 9-1 over his first 10 UFC appearances, while Prates drops to 4-1 in the promotion.
In the night’s co-main event, one-time UFC title challenger and longtime light heavyweight stalwart Anthony Smith (38-22) lost his retirement bout in a bloody affair against China’s Zhang Mingyang (19-6).
Catch full UFC Kansas City: Garry vs. Prates results and highlights below, as well as Uncrowned’s live blog of the main event.
Main Card
Welterweight: Ian Machado Garry def. Carlos Prates via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
Light heavyweight: Zhang Mingyang def. Anthony Smith via TKO (elbows) at 4:03 of R1 | Watch finish | Smith retires
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Featherweight: David Onama def. Giga Chikadze via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Middleweight: Abus Magomedov def. Michel Pereira via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Welterweight: Randy Brown def. Nicolas Dalby via KO (punch) at 1:39 of R2 | Watch finish
Middleweight: Ikram Aliskerov def. Andre Muniz via TKO (punches) at 4:54 of R1 | Watch finish
Flyweight: Matt Schnell def. Jimmy Flick via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Lightweight: Evan Elder def. Gauge Young via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Featherweight: Chris Gutierrez def. John Castaneda via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
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Bantamweight: Da’Mon Blackshear def. Heili Alateng via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Bantamweight: Malcolm Wellmaker def. Cameron Saaiman via KO (punch) at 1:59 of R1 | Watch finish
Strawweight: Jaqueline Amorim def. Polyana Viana via submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:49 of R2 | Watch video
Featherweight: Timmy Cuamba def. Roberto Romero via TKO (knee and punches) at 3:55 of R2 | Watch finish
Women’s bantamweight: Joselyne Edwards def. Chelsea Chandler via TKO (strikes) at 2:31 of R1 | Watch finish
