If you were watching the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City back in April 2025, you saw it. The tension. That weird, electric feeling when a hype train meets a brick wall of technical discipline. Ian Machado Garry versus Carlos Prates wasn't just another fight on a Saturday night. It was a career-defining crossroads for two of the most dangerous 170-pounders on the planet.
Most people thought Prates would just walk through him. I mean, look at the run he was on. "The Nightmare" had basically spent 2024 and early 2025 turning people's lights out like he was working for the electric company. 11 straight wins. 10 knockouts. The dude was terrifying. But Garry, love him or hate him, proved that "The Future" isn't just a catchy nickname.
What Really Happened with Ian Machado Garry and Carlos Prates
The fight itself was a masterclass in staying cool under fire. For the first three rounds, Ian Machado Garry did something that frustrated every Brazilian fan in the building: he refused to play Prates’ game. He didn't stand there and trade haymakers. Instead, he used this incredibly annoying—but effective—movement.
Garry landed 126 significant strikes to Prates' 63. That is a massive gap.
Honestly, the distance management was the whole story. Garry would pop a jab, circle out, and leave Prates swinging at the Kansas City air. It wasn't "boring," it was surgical. But then came the fifth round.
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The Fifth Round Scare
Everyone who says Garry is "chinny" or "soft" needs to rewatch the final 60 seconds of that fight. Prates, knowing he was down on the cards, went absolutely nuclear. He hurt Garry on the feet. He had him backed against the fence, unloading everything but the kitchen sink.
- The Scorecards: 48-47, 48-47, 49-46.
- The Takedowns: Garry went 4-for-4, using wrestling to kill Prates' momentum.
- The Striking Accuracy: Both men were hovering around 50-55%, but Garry’s volume was double.
Prates almost found the finish. If there were 30 more seconds? Maybe we’re talking about a different winner. But Garry survived the onslaught, showing a level of grit that his critics usually ignore.
Why the "Fighting Nerds" Hype Met a Wall
Carlos Prates represents the rise of the "Fighting Nerds" out of Brazil. They are technical, they are scientific, and they usually find the kill shot. Before he met Ian Machado Garry, Prates had finished Trevin Giles, Charles Radtke, Li Jingliang, and even the veteran Neil Magny.
The problem? Garry is a nerd too. Just a different kind.
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Garry’s fight IQ in this matchup was through the roof. He noticed that Prates had this habit of dropping his guard right after he thought a combination was over. So, Garry started adding these weird half-second pauses in his striking. He’d throw a 1-2, wait for Prates to exhale and drop his hands, then boom—land the third shot. It’s that high-level chess that separates the top 5 from the top 15.
The Aftermath: Where Are They Now?
Since that April night, both guys have stayed incredibly busy. It's actually kind of insane how fast the welterweight landscape moves.
- Ian Machado Garry: He didn't just sit on that win. He went on to beat Belal Muhammad in November 2025 via another unanimous decision. Currently, he’s sitting at #5 in the rankings, looking like a legitimate title contender who just won't go away.
- Carlos Prates: "The Nightmare" didn't let the loss break him. He bounced back by knocking out Geoff Neal with a spinning back elbow that belonged in a movie, and then he put away Leon Edwards in late 2025. He’s currently #8 and arguably the most dangerous "dark horse" in the division.
It’s funny. People spend so much time talking about Garry’s personal life or his "cringe" persona that they forget he’s 17-1. His only loss is a decision to Shavkat Rakhmonov. That’s it. That’s the list.
Why This Matchup Still Matters in 2026
If you're looking at the current welterweight rankings, a rematch between these two feels inevitable. Prates has improved his takedown defense significantly since the Garry fight—he showed that against Leon Edwards. Garry, meanwhile, has leaned even harder into his grappling.
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There’s a narrative that Prates was just "off" that night or that the five-round pace was too much for him. Maybe. But Garry’s ability to shut down a power puncher’s rhythm is a specific skill set that is hard to replicate.
Key Takeaways for Fans
If you’re betting on or analyzing these two in the future, keep these things in mind. Garry wins with volume and "annoying" movement. He doesn't care if you like his style as long as the judges do. Prates wins by finding the one moment you relax. Against Garry, he couldn't find it until it was too late.
If you want to understand the modern welterweight division, you have to watch the tape of this fight. It’s the blueprint for how to beat a power-hitter, and it’s also the blueprint for why Prates is so dangerous in the championship rounds.
Next Steps for the Hardcore Fan:
Go back and watch the fourth round specifically. Most people focus on the fifth, but the fourth is where Prates actually started landing the body shots that set up his late-game surge. Pay attention to Garry’s posture—it changes the second he takes a hard left to the liver. It's the little details like that which will tell you who wins the rematch if it ever happens at the top of a title card.