Carlos Prates experienced his first defeat in the UFC octagon after an impressive 4-0 start in 2024. He lost a decision to Ian Machado Garry in the main event of Saturday`s fight card in Kansas City. Following the bout, Prates expressed his determination to bounce back as a better fighter.
Instead of participating in the post-fight press conference after his 25-minute contest with Garry, the Brazilian welterweight opted to issue a brief statement in Portuguese via his Instagram account.
“Unfortunately, I wasn`t able to finish the fight, and that wasn`t sufficient,” Prates wrote. “Sorry, family, I will return stronger.”
Prates` loss marked the first setback for the Fighting Nerds team in the UFC. Their top four talents, including Caio Borralho, Jean Silva, and Mauricio Ruffy, had previously maintained a perfect 19-0 record, which now stands at 19-1.
Teammate Jean Silva took to social media to show his support, stating, “Damn it, we are a family, and we will be champions together; we will navigate this together. And to those already criticizing, screw you all. I am with `The Nightmare` [Prates] even in other lifetimes.”
Caio Borralho, often considered a leader within the Sao Paulo-based group, also shared a video message supporting his teammate.
“I just want to express my sincere gratitude for all the support directed towards our team and everyone, including Carlos and the others,” Borralho said. “Carlos is doing well. We accept this loss like men, and we understand that we always grow after such a difficult defeat. I believe we will go back, do what we do best, which is studying this sport, and we will come back better.”
Borralho added, “I think Carlos will return stronger, significantly better than he was today. However, congratulations to Ian, congratulations to Chute Boxe, maximum respect to you guys. I am focusing on those who consistently show love for our team and everyone within it. We are changing the landscape, we are taking over, they are taking over, keep going. This is merely a temporary setback, and we will be back soon, right? I will see you all soon. Thank you immensely, all love.”
Wesley Dunham