In what promises to be one of the most exciting matchups of the year, rising UFC welterweight contenders Carlos Prates (21-6) and Ian Machado Garry (15-1) will face off in a five-round main event at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City this weekend.
The tension was palpable during their official face-off, with the 13th-ranked Prates asking his opponent the ominous question: 'Are you ready to die?' Garry, ranked 7th in the division, responded with equal intensity: 'Killing is easy, but are you ready to die?'
Brazilian fighter Prates has made a remarkable impact since joining the UFC last year, earning the breakout fighter recognition after securing four consecutive victories – all by knockout or technical knockout, with two finishes coming in the first round. His striking prowess and devastating knockout power have quickly established him as one of the division's most dangerous competitors.
Ireland's Garry, nicknamed 'The Future,' enters this bout following a valiant performance against undefeated Shavkhat Rakhmonov, where he stepped in as a short-notice replacement. Despite suffering his first professional loss, Garry earned respect by becoming the first opponent to go the distance with the Kazakh fighter, who previously had 18 straight finishes.
At 27 years old, Garry has shown significant improvement since training at Charles Oliveira's academy, developing a well-rounded skill set that combines boxing, jiu-jitsu, and grappling. According to Statbet analysis, Garry's diverse fighting arsenal gives him a tactical advantage in this matchup, potentially allowing him to dictate the pace and direction of the fight.
The five-round contest presents multiple strategic options for the Irish fighter – he can either engage in a striking battle with the knockout-hungry Prates or neutralize the Brazilian's punching power by taking the fight to the ground.
This UFC Fight Night event takes place on April 26-27, with preliminary bouts beginning at midnight and the main card starting at 3:00 AM Eastern Time.
