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USA Today
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Ian Machado Garry slams Joaquin Buckley for acting out of 'desperation'
Ian Machado Garry slams Joaquin Buckley for acting out of 'desperation' Ian Machado Garry is making a bold prediction for Joaquin Buckley vs. Kamaru Usman at UFC on ESPN 69. Buckley (21-6 MMA, 11-4 UFC) meets former welterweight champion Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) in the June 14 main event at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Buckley was in attendance for Machado Garry's (16-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) unanimous decision win over Carlos Prates in Saturday's UFC on ESPN 66 headliner at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo. He tried to heckle him during Friday's weigh-ins, but Machado Garry didn't give him too much attention. "It's just desperation," Garry said of Buckley on "The Ariel Helwani Show." "That's all it is. It's quite sad. He can't generate enough talk about himself by doing the stuff he does, so he tries to piggyback off other people. It's OK, let him be him." Despite slamming Buckley for his antics, Machado Garry admits that he thinks he'll make easy work of Usman, who hasn't competed since suffering his third loss in a row to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in October 2023. "My man's trying to focus on getting all the content he can with me this weekend meanwhile he's got a fight," Machado Garry said. "He should focus on his fight, get his fight done, and then we'll see what the future holds. I think he runs through Usman. I don't think he wins him. I think he demolishes him."
USA Today
30-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, April 29: Ian Machado Garry back on the rise
USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, April 29: Ian Machado Garry back on the rise Last weekend, UFC on ESPN 66 took place in Kansas City, Mo. The event prompted moves in multiple weight classes. The event featured a welterweight showdown between Ian Machado Garry and Carlos Prates. It was mostly one-way traffic for Machado Garry, who appeared levels above his opponent. Entering the week at No. 9, Machado Garry Garry moves up two spots to settle at No. 7, right behind the upcoming title challenger Jack Della Maddalena. Check out all the latest pound-for-pound and divisional USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings.
USA Today
30-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC's Stephen Thompson calls out Carlos Prates: 'It will be a striking extravaganza'
UFC's Stephen Thompson calls out Carlos Prates: 'It will be a striking extravaganza' Stephen Thompson wants to test his striking against Carlos Prates. Prates (21-7 MMA, 4-1 UFC) suffered his first octagon loss when was defeated by Ian Machado Garry in Saturday's UFC on ESPN 66 headliner at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo. Prates hurt Machado Garry late but was outstruck overall and taken down four times in the fight. Thompson (17-7-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC) called out Prates in typical respectful fashion and sees a fight between them delivering on the feet. "It will be a striking extravaganza, if you will," Thompson told MMA on SiriusXM. "Ian Garry, he's good at the grappling, he's good at the wrestling. We are good at it to try to keep the fight standing. Me and Prates, we want the fight to stay standing. We want to see who the best striker is in the UFC. "I think that would be an amazing fight, as well. I'm all for it, to be honest with you. Carlos Prates, will you please sign the contract. Just sign the contract. Get out there, let's have some fun, let's put on a show, let's punch each other in the face, and go have a beer afterwards, maybe a few cigarettes on your part." "Wonderboy" is no stranger to outclassing rising contenders on the feet. He successfully stood toe-to-toe with the likes of Vicente Luque, Geoff Neal and Kevin Holland. However, in his most recent outing, Thompson was knocked out by Joaquin Buckley at UFC 307 last October.
USA Today
29-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Michael Bisping reacts to Anthony Smith's loss in UFC retirement fight: 'He's won at life'
Michael Bisping reacts to Anthony Smith's loss in UFC retirement fight: 'He's won at life' Michael Bisping commends Anthony Smith for the career he's had in the UFC. Smith (37-22 MMA, 13-12 UFC) announced his retirement after a first-round TKO loss to Zhang Mingyang in Saturday's UFC on ESPN 66 co-main event at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo. "Lionheart" challenged Jon Jones for the light heavyweight title at UFC 235 in 2019 but fell short in a unanimous decision loss. He was struck with an illegal knee during the fight but opted to continue over claiming a likely disqualification win. Smith didn't walk away with his hand raised in his final fight, but his former podcast host and friend, Bisping, thinks he has a lot to be proud of. "That's the nature of the beast, man," Bisping said on his YouTube channel. "You stick around long enough, you become chewed up, you get spat out, and the next generation makes a name off you. Congrats to Anthony Smith on a great career. All the best in retirement. He's going to have a great career as an analyst. He's a tremendous talker, he's an awesome person, great father and husband. He's a solid guy. He's won at life." Smith has served as a desk analyst for ESPN on numerous occasions, and UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that it will continue being the plan for him moving forward. "That's a tough way to go out, but he's a great guy, obviously has an unbelievable story, and I'm glad we ended up with him here," White said during the UFC on ESPN 66 post-fight news conference. "He's a good human being, and obviously he has a career now with us not fighting."
USA Today
27-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Sean Shelby's Shoes: What's next for Carlos Prates after UFC on ESPN 66 loss?
Sean Shelby's Shoes: What's next for Carlos Prates after UFC on ESPN 66 loss? Show Caption Hide Caption Who's next for Carlos Prates after Ian Machado Garry loss? | UFC on ESPN 66 matchmaker MMA Junkie's Mike Bohn plays matchmaker and looks ahead to what makes sense for Carlos Prates in this edition of "Sean Shelby's Shoes." Carlos Prates tasted defeat for the first time in nearly six years Saturday when he fell short against Ian Machado Garry in the UFC on ESPN 66 main event. Prates (21-7 MMA, 4-1 UFC) was riding high on a 10-fight knockout streak, but just as he said he would, Machado Garry (16-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) brought an end to all that in the form of a unanimous decision in the welterweight contender matchup at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo. What does the loss mean for Prates and his title trajectory at 170 pounds? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on his future.
