Paul Felder anticipates that the UFC will give Ian Machado Garry special treatment because he has once again accepted a fight on short notice.
Garry (15-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) is scheduled to fight Carlos Prates (21-6 MMA, 4-0 UFC) on April 26 at UFC on ESPN 66 in Kansas City, Missouri. This main event was arranged quickly after the original headliner between Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree was canceled.
Garry was not initially booked for a fight, while Prates was already preparing for Geoff Neal at UFC 314 on April 12 before Neal withdrew. This is the second consecutive time Garry has taken a short-notice fight. Previously, he was moved from his UFC on ESPN 63 headliner against Joaquin Buckley to face Shavkat Rakhmonov a week earlier in a five-round title eliminator at UFC 310, where he lost by unanimous decision.
Felder told ESPN, “I must give a huge shoutout to Ian Machado Garry for stepping up again against a top contender, a very dangerous opponent like Carlos Prates, who has been on a winning streak in the UFC – knocking out and finishing everyone. Ian Garry understands that these are the opportunities he needs to seize.”
“These are the moments when the UFC will reward you later in your career, helping you reach the top. It`s a give and take. I appreciate it. He`s demonstrating his toughness and that he`s not afraid of anyone in this division.”
Prates has been very successful in the UFC, earning Performance of the Night bonuses in all four of his knockout victories, most recently against Neil Magny at UFC Fight Night 247.
