Under the bright lights of UFC Kansas City, Ian Garry didn’t just fight—he put on a spectacle. The Irishman turned the Octagon into a stage, delivering a near-flawless MMA masterclass against the surging Carlos Prates. With a unanimous decision victory scored 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46, ‘The Future’ lived up to the hype, even catching the attention of the man who inspired him, Conor McGregor.

Garry’s early performance was pure poetry. He danced across the canvas, firing pop shots, slicing through with head kicks, and even mixing in takedowns for good measure. Prates found himself getting scorched by the volume. For two full rounds, it seemed like Garry could do no wrong. But what happens when the flame you thought you put out suddenly roars back?

That’s exactly what ‘The Nightmare’ tried to do. Visibly tired but stubborn, the Brazilian powered into the later rounds, landing heavy shots that had Garry bleeding and scrambling. Was it too little, too late?

Even with Garry clinging on for survival in the final minutes, his early dominance had already stacked the deck. He survived Prates’ late storm, and when the final horn sounded, there was no doubt—‘The Future’ had earned his win.

In his post-fight speech, Garry wore his Irish pride like armor. “Look, my entire goal in this game is to prove that I’m one of the most game fighters that’s ever existed,” he declared. He reminded the crowd, “I’ve got the fighting Irish in my blood, in my soul, my history.” And with a promise to be the backup for the upcoming clash between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315, Ian Garry made it clear—he’s coming for gold next.

Conor McGregor, watching from afar, couldn’t resist chiming in. Posting on X (in a now-deleted message), the Irish superstar wrote simply, “Great fight!” alongside Irish and Brazilian flags and a heart emoji. A simple post, but one that spoke volumes. When ‘The Notorious’ tips his hat, the MMA world listens, and the fans flooded social media with their reactions. Here’s a look at what the MMA sphere had to say about this incredible clash between two rising stars in the UFC’s welterweight division!

Ian Garry catches Conor McGregor’s eye with a supreme performance against Carlos Prates as fans left questioning ‘The Nightmare’s fight IQ

Many fans scratched their heads at the close scorecards. Garry seemed to dominate early, but Carlos Prates came on strong in the later rounds, even bloodying up the Irishman and leaving him scrambling for survival. As such, the two judges who scored the fight 48-47 in Garry’s favor found themselves being questioned by the fans. What do you think? Should the scores have been split more evenly?

“48-47 twice is crazy work.”

One of the biggest mysteries of the night. After rocking Ian Garry late, Prates had him vulnerable on the mat, but he hesitated. Fans wondered aloud—why didn’t he just empty the tank and go for the finish?

“Why Prates stop punching Garry on ground?”

As Garry staggered and bled, Prates seemed almost hesitant, picking his shots instead of swarming. In fact, he even let Garry get back to his feet instead of trying to control the closing minutes of the fight on the ground. That decision might have cost him the fight, a tactical error that had fans pulling their hair out.

“Wtf was Prates doing at the end, man?”

Despite getting dominated early, Prates nearly stole the fight with his late surge. Just a few more strikes, a little less hesitation—and we could’ve been telling a very different story today.

“Prates was so close.”

With Conor McGregor’s seal of approval and a gritty win in his pocket, many feel Garry is ready to step into the role of Ireland’s next fighting superstar. Is a new era already upon us?

“The new Notorious has emerged.”

One fan brought up the elephant in the room. Carlos Prates’ reputation as a heavy smoker seemed like a quirky side note during his streak of brutal finishes leading up to UFC on ESPN 66. But after fading when it mattered most, fans brutally pointed out that maybe it’s time he left the cigarettes behind.

“Let’s be real, it’s high time that Prates puts the Marlboros down.”

To wrap things up, Ian Garry‘s performance at UFC Kansas City cemented his place not just as a rising star but as a credible threat to the top of the welterweight division. While Carlos Prates’ late surge proved he’s no slouch, Garry’s early dominance and ability to weather the storm were the difference-makers.

Now, seemingly with Conor McGregor’s stamp of approval and a future title shot within his sights, it’s clear that Ian Garry is more than just a talent—he’s a force to be reckoned with. The question is, how far can he go? Is this just the beginning of the ‘New Notorious’ era? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!