Ian Machado Garry has genuinely embraced Brazilian culture since moving there to train with the acclaimed Chute Boxe team, and he believes the country fully reciprocates this affection.
The Irish welterweight anticipates that Brazil will back him in his UFC Kansas City main event fight against Carlos Prates this Saturday. While Prates reportedly seeks out his main indulgences from outside the country, Garry asserts that he has welcomed everything Brazil has offered him so far and wouldn`t prefer it any other way.
“Look, the guy smokes American cigarettes. Drinks Irish whiskey,” Garry remarked about Prates during UFC Kansas City media day. “Meanwhile, I`m in Brazil enjoying [acai and paçoquinha]. I`m more Brazilian than this guy. I`ve got his whole country wanting me to win.”
Garry`s comments expressing his deep fondness for Brazil were made after he was questioned about Prates openly admitting that he regularly smokes cigarettes before and after his fights.
While these detrimental habits haven`t appeared to impede Prates in the UFC thus far, given his record of four knockouts in his first four promotional appearances, Garry is certain he would never conduct himself in that manner.
“That`s his personal life decision,” Garry stated. “That`s not something for me to get involved in. He is free to do as he pleases with his life, and we can all sit here and discuss it. Ultimately, on Saturday night, he steps into the octagon with a competitor who is a complete professional.
I am going to completely overpower him in every possible way I choose. I will manipulate him, and there will be nothing he can do to prevent it.”
Garry also addressed previous remarks he made about Prates when he referred to him as a “quitter” after watching one of his early fights before Prates earned a UFC contract.
The comment provoked a strong reaction from Prates, but Garry isn`t overly concerned with what his opponent has to say about him. In Garry`s view, he was simply providing an analysis of one of Prates` past bouts, and his opponent cannot deny what actually occurred.
“I make it a priority to do my job and study my opponents by watching their fights,” Garry explained. “I analyze them. Look, his team is even called the Fighting Nerds. They do the same thing. They`ve never seen a fight where I quit. So when I saw that, he put his hand up, waved at the referee, and said `I`m done.` I have honestly never witnessed that in MMA.
That incident also revealed the real Carlos Prates. When faced with adversity, he quits. And on Saturday night, I am going to put him in precisely that situation where he has to make the choice if he wants to quit.”
Despite all the anticipation and attention Prates has received since his initial arrival in the UFC, Garry believes he is by far the most formidable opponent the Brazilian has encountered.
The reverse isn`t true when Garry examines his own fighting record and compares the caliber of talent he has faced in the UFC versus Prates` achievements so far.
“I strive to prove I`m the best against all opponents, and I do consider Carlos a respectable contender,” Garry commented. “However, when I consider my past opponents, I don`t find him as unpredictable as [Michael `Venom` Page]. I don`t think he`s as quick as MVP. He isn`t as well-rounded as Shavkat [Rakhmonov], and frankly, due to my reach and height, he doesn`t present the same stylistic difficulty that Geoff Neal did. For me, this is an opportunity to step in there and clearly demonstrate that I am simply operating at levels far above him.”
Prates might possess an impressive highlight reel from his first four fights in the UFC, but don`t expect Garry to be impressed until he witnesses something truly extraordinary.
Judging by his assessment of Prates and his skill set, Garry clearly hasn`t seen anything of that nature yet.
“This competitor is a one-trick pony,” Garry asserted. “He has a left hand, a left knee, and a left leg. All his primary weapons are on one side. I, conversely, possess everything I need. I can defeat him everywhere, during every moment of this fight, and that is exactly what I intend to do Saturday night.”
Wesley Dunham 
Marcus Blakely