Ian Garry wants Carlos Prates to know that this is his world.
On Tuesday, Dana White dropped a series of bombshells, including two massive world title clashes scheduled for UFC 316 on Saturday, June 7. You can read all about those here, but today, we’re talking about another big announcement the CEO made.
That being a main event showdown between Garry and surging contender Carlos Prates in the UFC Kansas City headliner on April 26.
Shortly after the announcement was made, Garry took to social media and delivered a lengthy response to the news. But within that response was a very simple message to his opponent: ‘This is my world.’
”Right, it’s official. You’ve got a new main event,” Garry said on Instagram. “Kansas City, Missouri, me vs. Carlos Prates, April 26th. I’m excited. Why? The UFC goes, ‘Ah, we need someone. Who do we need? Who do we call?’ You call me. Why? Because I’m a real fighter who wants to fight the best in the world.
“I’m going to show everybody how good I am. Carlos Prates is awesome, but this is my world. I love to fight. There’s nothing in this world I love more than fighting. Kansas City, let’s go! Ireland, get your tickets, get your flights. Brazil, get your tickets, get your flights.”
Ian Garry looking to bounce back from his first professional loss
For the first time in his professional mixed martial arts career, ‘The Future’ will be looking to bounce back from a loss after coming up short against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 in December. Overall, Garry is 8-1 inside the Octagon and still holding strong as the seventh-ranked contender in the welterweight division.
A loss against Prates could prove disastrous for Garry, plummeting him down the rankings and potentially out of the top 10.
Of course, a win for ‘The Nightmare’ would skyrocket him up the rents, putting him potentially one big win away from his first shot at UFC gold.
Originally, Prates was scheduled to fight Geoff Neal at UFC 314 in Miami, but ‘Handz of Steel’ withdrew from the bout. Instead of rushing to find a replacement for Prates, the promotion pulled him from the card altogether and gave him his own main event against a higher-ranked opponent.
