Carlos Prates probably gets a lot of messages on social media, but one in particular stood out to him as he was preparing to make the journey to UFC Kansas City for his showdown against Ian Machado Garry.
The message came from a fan named Randy, who has been battling esophageal cancer. Due to the treatments he’s receiving, he’s been losing his hair, so he asked the Brazilian star to shave his head after arriving in his hometown. It was a request Prates was more than happy to fulfill once he landed in Missouri this week.
“He’s teaching me a lot this week,” Prates said after meeting Randy on Wednesday. “Sometimes we have to learn. We usually complain a lot about any little thing that happens in our lives and [this] guy is here after a terminal cancer diagnosis, he texted me to shave his head because I’m his favorite fighter and man, we can see that our problems are nothing and this man is here, he’s standing, he came here and said he won’t give up and I think that’s what we have to keep as a life lesson to never give up just like he’s doing fighting against this disease that’s a very tough one.
“But I’m sure he’ll be fine. He’ll get better and I hope in a couple of months I can come back here and see him.”
Prates followed through on his promise to shave Randy’s head and even presented him with an authentic pair of Fighting Nerds glasses afterwards.
The entire experience seemed to make Randy’s day as he got to spend some time with Prates before the welterweight contender goes to war Saturday in the UFC Kansas City main event.
