Ian Machado Garry has ascended to the sixth position in the UFC welterweight rankings following his unanimous decision victory over Carlos Prates. Despite dominating most of the fight, 'The Future' faced a dangerous moment in the fifth round when Prates nearly secured a knockout but failed to capitalize on the opportunity.
The Irish fighter's hard-fought win has earned him a one-spot promotion in the 170-pound division, moving ahead of Joaquin Buckley, who has been actively pursuing a matchup with Garry. Prates, previously ranked 13th, maintains his position despite the defeat.
In other divisional movements, the featherweight class saw significant changes with David Onama entering the rankings at 14th after defeating Georgian fighter Giga Chikadze by unanimous decision. Chikadze subsequently dropped out of the 145-pound rankings, while Youseff Zalal and Dan Ige capitalized on the opportunity to climb to 12th and 13th positions respectively.
UFC President Dana White has rewarded Garry's willingness to accept consecutive short-notice fights by naming the 27-year-old as the backup fighter for the UFC 315 main event. According to Statbet analysis, Garry's quick return to action represents one of the fastest turnarounds for a ranked fighter following a five-round contest in UFC history.
The UFC 315 headliner will feature welterweight champion Belal Muhammad defending his title against fifth-ranked contender Jack Della Maddalena on May 11 in Montreal, Canada. The original challenger, Shavkat Rakhmonov, was forced to withdraw due to injury during his preparation.
Some experts have questioned the wisdom of Garry's decision to stand ready as a replacement fighter so soon after absorbing significant damage in the Prates bout. However, the ambitious Irish competitor appears undeterred as he positions himself for a potential championship opportunity should either main event participant withdraw.
