The UFC returns to Kansas City on April 26 with a welterweight principal event that has turn into as much about pride because it is about rankings. Brazilian knockout artist Carlos Prates and Irish contender Ian Machado Garry have turned up the warmth within the lead-up, trading verbal jabs which have set the stage for a grudge match with real title implications.
Carlos Prates responds to Ian Garry calling him a ‘quitter’:
“I have been in the corporate for a yr, two principal events, 4 bonuses, 4 knockouts. I believe this kid has been within the UFC for about 4 years, he’s never had a principal event.
He won one bonus I believe in his life. A… pic.twitter.com/MX1oToVYnB
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) April 21, 2025
Prates vs. Garry Heats Up
Carlos Prates, riding an 11-fight win streak and an ideal 4-0 UFC record—all by knockout—has not minced words about his opponent. Speaking on the MMA Hoje podcast, Prates delivered a blistering assessment of Garry’s UFC tenure:
“I have been in the corporate for a yr, two principal events, 4 bonuses, 4 knockouts. I believe this kid has been within the UFC for about 4 years, he’s never had a principal event. He won one bonus I believe in his life. A bunch of choices there, a f***ing boring fighter… He’s fighting within the principal event today because I selected him… I believe he’s making much more [money] than he made when he went to fight Shavkat… And at the top of all of it, after he’s all beat up, when he wakes up after the fight, he’ll have to come back and say: Thanks, Carlos Prates, you made me some good money”.
Prates’ comments come after Garry labeled him a “quitter” for a TKO loss earlier in his profession, a barb that clearly struck a nerve. Prates, known for his ending instincts greater than his trash talk, hit back hard, promising to make Garry pay for his words contained in the Octagon.
Prates’ Meteoric Rise: Knockouts, Bonuses, and Essential Events
Since debuting within the UFC in 2024, Carlos Prates has been nothing in need of sensational. The 31-year-old Brazilian has finished all 4 of his UFC opponents, Trevin Giles, Charles Radtke, Li Jingliang, and Neil Magny, by knockout, collecting a performance bonus every time. His aggressive Muay Thai, precision striking, and relentless pace have made him a fan favorite and a nightmare for anyone at 170 kilos.
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Prates’ confidence is rooted in results. He’s fought his way into two principal events in only over a yr, a feat Garry has yet to realize despite being with the promotion since 2021. With 21 wins (16 by KO) and only six losses, Prates believes his style and activity have fast-tracked him toward title contention. As he told Brazilian media this week, “I consider that if I beat Ian Garry, I’ll fight yet another time after which I’ll fight for the title… I would like to fight twice this yr after which fight for the belt in 2026”.
The “Fighting Nerds” team standout is an element of a surging Brazilian wave within the UFC, together with his core teammates boasting a combined 19-0 record within the promotion. Prates’ recent win over Neil Magny, a first-round knockout, underscored his claim as probably the most dangerous finishers within the division.
High Stakes in Kansas City
This principal event is greater than just a private feud—it’s a fight with real title implications in a crowded welterweight division. Prates, currently ranked thirteenth, could leap into the highest 10 with a press release win, while Garry, at No. 7, is seeking to rebound from his first skilled loss and reassert himself as a title contender.
The winner could have a powerful argument for a title eliminator later in 2025, especially with champion Belal Muhammad defending his belt soon and contenders like Jack Della Maddalena waiting within the wings. Each men have promised a finish, and with their animosity boiling over, the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City is about for a principal event that might steal the show.
As fight night approaches, the one certainty is that neither Carlos Prates nor Ian Machado Garry might be short on motivation. Whether it’s Prates’ knockout power or Garry’s technical mastery, the welterweight division is about to get the clarity and fireworks it craves.
