When the UFC rolls into Kansas City on April 26, the octagon won’t just host another welterweight scrap. It’ll rather set the stage for a full-blown ideological war. On one side: Carlos Prates, a surging striker from São Paulo whose gym, Fighting Nerds, has quietly become a finishing machine factory. On the other: Ian Machado Garry, a fast-talking Irishman with sharp suits and sharper kicks, coming off the bitter taste of his first professional loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310. It’s an old-school showdown with modern stakes!

Prates enters the cage undefeated in the UFC, riding the wave of a four-fight win streak alongside his gym mates. Fighting Nerds, a once-overlooked corner of Brazil’s MMA scene, has flipped the script in 2025. They’re 12-0 in the promotion this year, and their fighters break opponents down like blueprints. Prates himself, a 29-6 Muay Thai ace turned MMA wrecking ball with a string of jaw-dropping finishes. His most recent win came against Neil Magny at UFC Fight Night 247, where he delivered a stunning first-round KO over ‘The Haitian Sensation’.

Despite his accolades, Carlos Prates has also grabbed attention for his distinctive lifestyle. His habit of smoking 8 to 10 cigarettes daily has shocked fans, as it adds intrigue to his otherwise grueling training routine. “I think, I smoked since [I was] 15 years old. I have more time living, smoking than without smoking. So for me, it’s normal; I smoke before the fight; on the day of the fight, you know, it’s normal.”, said ‘The Nightmare’ to Full Send MMA before his last fight.

On the other side, on The Ariel Helwani Show, Machado Garry turned up the heat even more. Make no mistake, the Irishman gave his props to the Brazilian, stating, “I think his team is phenomenal, I love watching his team, you know what I mean? I think his team are awesome and they’re having a lot of success at the moment. And they’re a lot of fun to watch, so.” 

So? What’s the caveat? He continued, “Yeah, I’m impressed with him to a certain extent, and I think of him as an opponent, I think, huh! That’s not going to work out well for you, mate.”

“If this man thinks he’s as good as he is, then when he steps across the Octagon on April 26 against me, that’s his do or don’t time,” Garry told Helwani. “And I promise you right now, I promise you, I feel it in my heart. I see it every time I close my eyes. I’m going to finish this guy.”

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After sprinting to a spotless 14-0 record, the Irishman got checked hard at UFC 314. His undefeated record shattered, and his momentum paused, despite the fact that he arguably gave Shavkat Rakhmonov the toughest fight of his professional career. Moreover, he has his detractors doubt him louder than ever, after the loss. Matching up with a red-hot Prates on short notice is a tightrope walk without a safety net. But for Garry, it’s precisely the kind of high-wire act he thrives on.

There it was. Not a prediction—a pledge. No poker face. No ducking behind coach-speak. Just straight fire from a man who sees redemption in his opponent’s eyes.

Ian Machado Garry’s redemption quest for UFC Kansas City

Ian Machado Garry is going to step into the cage against Carlos Prates, making a statement that echoes through the Octagon on April 24th at UFC on ESPN 66. After facing his first professional defeat at the hands of Shavkat Rakhmonov, ‘The Future’ is ready to dig deeper. It’s time for him to prove his mettle as he aims to claw his way back into the welterweight elite. His bold move to enter the octagon against an undefeated fighter in his MMA career, against an incredibly dangerous prospect like Prates on such short notice is pure determination to shake things up.

Pulling no punches, Ian Machado Garry doesn’t sound like a man who’s afraid of someone terrifying like Carlos Prates—literally nicknamed ‘The Nightmare’! Regardless of his haters and detractors, the Irishman doesn’t back down from a challenge. The man hasn’t had easy opponents in his last four fights, and despite losing to an uber dangerous opponent like Shavkat Rakhmonov, made sure to give the audience and his opponent something to remember.

This clash between Machado Garry and Prates promises to bring heart-pounding action as two relentless welterweights step into the cage. Each determined to carve out their spot in the rankings. The outcome will shape the fighters’ journeys of two rising titans in the UFC Octagon. ​

The anticipation builds as UFC on ESPN: Machado Garry vs. Prates approaches, electrifying the MMA community. Will Machado Garry deliver on his promise to finish Prates or will the Fighting Nerds maintain their winning streak? Let us know in the comments down below.