MMA contender Carlos Prates has shared his perspective on why Ian Machado Garry is expected to be the next challenger for the UFC welterweight championship, potentially over himself.
Garry, currently on a two-fight winning streak, most recently defeated Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision at UFC Qatar. Following this victory, he publicly challenged reigning champion Islam Makhachev. Garry has also reportedly been training with southpaw wrestlers in Georgia to prepare for a potential matchup against the Dagestani fighter, with a fight against Makhachev anticipated for August.
Meanwhile, Prates has achieved three consecutive knockout victories, with two of those wins coming against former UFC champions. He is now ranked as the No. 2 contender in the welterweight division. Prates anticipates that he will face the winner of the potential Garry vs. Makhachev title bout.
During an appearance on the “Pound 4 Pound” podcast, Prates elaborated on his reasoning. He suggested that Garry’s willingness to accept fights on short notice has significantly impressed UFC management, leading to his favored position for the next title opportunity. Prates pointed out Garry’s short-notice bouts against Shavkat Rakhmonov in 2024 and against Prates himself in 2025, which Garry won by unanimous decision, handing Prates his first UFC loss.
“I fought Geoff Neal, I fought Leon Edwards, and I fought JDM. I knocked out three guys, two former champs,” Prates stated. “If we look at the last three fights of Ian, he lost to Shavkat, and he beat two guys. Me by points, and also Belal Muhammad by points… He got two fights on short notice. Me and Shavkat. I think it’s probably the way the UFC sees it. You got your fights, and now we are going to help you… He was a top contender. He didn’t need to fight me on short notice… Yet he [agreed to fight me].”
English Translation:
MMA contender Carlos Prates has shared his perspective on why Ian Machado Garry is expected to be the next challenger for the UFC welterweight championship, potentially over himself.
Garry, currently on a two-fight winning streak, most recently defeated Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision at UFC Qatar. Following this victory, he publicly challenged reigning champion Islam Makhachev. Garry has also reportedly been training with southpaw wrestlers in Georgia to prepare for a potential matchup against the Dagestani fighter, with a fight against Makhachev anticipated for August.
Meanwhile, Prates has achieved three consecutive knockout victories, with two of those wins coming against former UFC champions. He is now ranked as the No. 2 contender in the welterweight division. Prates anticipates that he will face the winner of the potential Garry vs. Makhachev title bout.
During an appearance on the “Pound 4 Pound” podcast, Prates elaborated on his reasoning. He suggested that Garry’s willingness to accept fights on short notice has significantly impressed UFC management, leading to his favored position for the next title opportunity. Prates pointed out Garry’s short-notice bouts against Shavkat Rakhmonov in 2024 and against Prates himself in 2025, which Garry won by unanimous decision, handing Prates his first UFC loss.
“I fought Geoff Neal, I fought Leon Edwards, and I fought JDM. I knocked out three guys, two former champs,” Prates stated. “If we look at the last three fights of Ian, he lost to Shavkat, and he beat two guys. Me by points, and also Belal Muhammad by points… He got two fights on short notice. Me and Shavkat. I think it’s probably the way the UFC sees it. You got your fights, and now we are going to help you… He was a top contender. He didn’t need to fight me on short notice… Yet he [agreed to fight me].”