Ian Machado Garry reacts to short-notice Carlos Prates headliner with excitement
Ian Machado Garry relishes the opportunity to save UFC on ESPN 66.
After the original headliner between Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree was scrapped due to a Hill injury, the UFC needed a big fight to fill the spot. The promotion ended up with an exciting welterweight matchup between Machado Garry (15-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) and Carlos Prates (21-6 MMA, 4-0 UFC), which takes place April 26 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.
Despite not having a fight booked, Machado Garry said he had no hesitation to accept the UFC's call. Meanwhile, Prates was already in camp to fight Geoff Neal at UFC 314 on April 12 before Neal was forced out.
'Right, it's official. You've got a new main event,' Garry said on his Instagram. 'Kansas City, Missouri, me vs. Carlos Prates, April 26, I'm excited. Why? The UFC go, 'Ah, we need someone. Who do we need? Who do we call?' You call me. Why? Because I'm a real fighter who wants to fight the best in the world.
'I'm going to show everybody how good I am. Carlos Prates is awesome, but this is my world. I love to fight. There's nothing more I love in this world than fighting. Kansas City, Missouri, let's go. Ireland, get your tickets, get your flights. Brazil, get your tickets, get your flights.'
Machado Garry will look to rebound from his first-career loss, a unanimous decision to Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 this past December. Surging contender Prates has torn through his competition in the UFC so far, scoring four knockouts and four Performance of the Night bonuses – most recently over Neil Magny in the UFC Fight Night 247 main event in November.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC on ESPN 66.
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