Ian Machado Garry showed grit and composure to outlast Carlos Prates and earn a unanimous decision victory at UFC Fight Night in Kansas City.
After dominating most of the bout with his sharp movement, counterstrikes, and smart wrestling, Garry had to survive a furious late surge from Prates. But when the final horn sounded, the judges gave Garry the nod with scores of 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46.
The win marked a strong rebound for the 27-year-old Irishman after suffering his first professional loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov in December.
Early Control and a Dangerous Finish
Garry controlled the first four rounds by keeping Prates at bay with clean jabs, feints, and smart takedown attempts. A crisp right hand in the first round opened a cut under Prates’ left eye, setting the tone early.
By the third round, Garry was landing uppercuts at will, and it seemed like he was cruising toward a dominant win.
However, Prates flipped the script in the fifth. With a desperate push, he stunned Garry with a left hand and a flying knee, then reversed a takedown attempt and poured on ground-and-pound.
Despite the scare, Garry kept his composure and survived until the final bell, showing true championship heart.
Garry’s Post-Fight Comments: “Outclass Him”
In his post-fight interview, Garry praised Prates’ toughness but said he never lost control:
“I wasn’t hurt enough to not know where I was, I was conscious in every moment. That man hits like a truck, but I told everyone I was going to outclass him — and I believe I did.”
Garry also revealed he’s the backup fighter for the welterweight title fight at UFC 315 between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena, which could lead to a title shot soon.
“My goal is to prove I’m one of the most game fighters ever. I’ve got the fighting Irish in my blood.”
Co-Main Event: Mingyang Zhang Ends Anthony Smith’s Career
In the night’s co-main event, China’s Mingyang Zhang spoiled Anthony Smith’s farewell fight, winning by first-round TKO. Zhang overwhelmed Smith with a flurry of punches and elbows, forcing the referee to step in at 4:03.
Smith, a former light heavyweight title challenger, announced his retirement inside the Octagon after 25 UFC fights.
“I’m just gonna be grateful it happened,” Smith said, receiving a warm ovation from the Kansas City crowd.
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