Ian Machado Garry secured a unanimous decision victory over Carlos Prates in the main event of UFC Kansas City, successfully returning to the win column after his first professional defeat. The fight, however, proved to be a significant test, particularly in the later rounds.
Despite “The Future” controlling the initial rounds and establishing a clear lead on the scorecards (which read 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46 in Garry`s favor at the end), the dynamic shifted dramatically as the fight progressed. Carlos Prates landed damaging strikes late in the fourth round and dominated large portions of the fifth. This culminated in heavy ground-and-pound from Prates that put Garry in serious trouble, leading many to believe a knockout finish was imminent.
Following the narrow escape and the decision win, professional fighters shared their reactions on social media. A common sentiment expressed was that Prates came incredibly close to finishing the fight. Sergio Pettis was among those who commented, tweeting directly that “Prates could have finished that shit. Bad decisions at the end.”
Other notable fighters, including Henry Cejudo, Casey O’Neill, and Derek Brunson, also highlighted Prates`s strong finish and discussed whether he had the opportunity or capacity to complete the come-from-behind victory in the final moments.
Wesley Dunham