Ian Machado Garry is set to face Carlos Prates at UFC Kansas City, but ahead of the fight, Garry has a bold demand for the UFC: he believes he’s earned a spot in the welterweight title conversation. The 15-1 fighter argues that, despite his loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov in a short-notice fight, his performance was enough to consider him in the title picture. Garry’s confidence is undeniable, and he’s ready to prove that he belongs among the elite in the division.

Is Ian Garry really ready to take on the best in the division, considering that his best win in the UFC came against Michael ‘Venom’ Page? Well, his next battle might substantiate his claims. One thing is certain—the promotion might gain big if Ian Garry makes it to the title contention. How? Let’s find out.

Shavkat Rakhmonov’s Injury Opens the Title Picture

The undefeated Kazakh Shavkat Rakhmonov was scheduled to fight Belal Muhammad for the welterweight gold following his victory over Ian Garry at UFC 310. However, reality hit fight fans like a truck just ahead of the rebooking of the Muhammad vs. Rakhmonov clash for UFC 315. ‘The Nomad’ confirmed that he suffered an injury, sending out the message that he was unable to make it to the title fight. As a result, the UFC was forced to bring in Jack Della Maddalena to face Muhammad as a replacement.

So, was Rakhmonov the cause of the current debacle in the welterweight scene? If we look at what ensued at UFC 310, Shavkat Rakhmonov beat Ian Garry but by a razor-thin margin. What’s more? He went injured back then too. According to Daniel Cormier, ‘The Nomad’ was injured going into the battle. The former dual-weight champion was at the ringside calling the fights from the commentary booth, and when he witnessed Rakhmonov’s performance, he realized something was wrong.

“If I’m Belal Muhammad, I’m actually kind of happy watching this fight tonight because Shavkat Rakhmonov did not look like himself even though I learned after that he had an injury,” Cormier said. “I think he might have tore his MCL going into the fight. Granted, with a torn ligament in your knee you’re not going to look like the killer that you looked like in fights prior.”  

Shavkat Rakhmonov’s camp never released the specifics of his injury, but at least now we can confirm via ‘DC’ that Rakhmonov’s injury is real. This opens up a clear path for Ian Machado Garry to jump ahead of him when it comes to title consideration. But why should the UFC consider the Irishman who’s ranked #7 in the welterweight division? Well, the answer is quite obvious.

Ian Garry’s Marketability Surpasses Other Contenders

Ian Machado Garry was on everyone’s radar even before he joined the UFC. He shares nationalities with none other than ‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor, who he trained with briefly in Dublin, as a teenager. Of course, there were other times the duo trained together and each time, ‘The Future’ had nothing but high praise for his Irish superstar counterpart.

But it doesn’t stop there because like McGregor, Machado Garry is also brash, unfiltered, confident; and like the ‘McGregor of old’, ready to take on any challenge. ‘The Future’ has incredible skills on the microphone and can bust out a promo without breaking a sweat. This is single-handedly, perhaps, the most important thing for any fighter apart from their fighting skills—their marketability. And for the UFC, Ian Machado Garry is the perfect candidate to throw their money behind.

Furthermore, ‘The Future’ is no stranger to difficult fights. Sure, he beat mid-tier contenders in his first five promotional appearances, but his last four fights saw him only take on tough contenders in the division like Neil Many, Geoff Neal, and Michael ‘Venom’ Page; all of whom he beat. From facing the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov to challenging Carlos Prates, ‘The Future’ has consistently stayed active, which is a major plus point in wooing Dana White.

So all the chips are in place for the promotion to launch their next big star into superstardom. There’s only one roadblock in the way—Carlos Prates, this Saturday at UFC Kansas.

A Victory Over Carlos Prates Solidifies Garry’s Claim

Riding an 11-fight winning streak, Carlos Prates looms like a demon in the welterweight rankings. Why are we saying this? Well, let us remind you that out of his last 11 victories, 10 came by way of knockout; five of which were in the UFC (including his DWCS win). Furthermore, despite Prates having more professional bouts in his MMA record, Machado Garry has more UFC bouts under his belt.

Talking to the UFC, Prates warned Garry ahead of their clash at UFC Kansas City, “I’m here, I’m knocking people out, I’m getting the bonus, really good performances, so I’m sure I’m ready to beat everybody in my weight division,” ‘The Nightmare’ said. “I have the best coaches. I’m living my best life, so I think I’m in my prime.” With a career record of 21 victories and only 6 defeats, Prates has won 16 fights by way of knockout and 3 fights by way of submission.

Despite Machado Garry facing big names in the division like Shavkat Rakhmonov, Michael Page, Geoff Neal, and Neil Many, Carlos Prates is a curveball that might prove to be the toughest test of his career—not just in the UFC. ‘The Fighting Nerds’ sensation is seeking an executive push toward a title shot. It’s true that Ian Garry is riding a one-fight losing streak, but a victory against Prates—who is riding a lot of hype at the moment—might propel ‘The Future’s stocks to astronomical levels, coercing the UFC management to gift him a title shot.

What do you think? Should Ian Machado Garry be considered for the title if he beats Carlos Prates? Let us know in the comments down below.