Is Ian Garry Destined for Championship Gold?
‘The Future’ may be more than a nickname for Ian Machado Garry now. Garry defeated the up-and-coming Welterweight contender Carlos Prates via unanimous decision last night. Prates, who boasted an undefeated record in the UFC until this fight, was seen as a tall task for Ian Garry. Carlos Prates was seen to be one of the most skillful strikers in the UFC, finishing all his UFC opponents coming into this bout. However, Ian Garry made sure that Prates wasn’t able to showcase his elite striking during their fight.
Love or hate him, you have to respect Ian Garry’s performance on Saturday night. For four rounds, Garry was able to effectively use all aspects of MMA to stop Prates from mustering together any momentum. Garry fought smart, knowing the danger Prates had in his strikes. Anytime it seemed that the tides were beginning to shift in Prate's favor, Machado Garry would mix in a timely takedown, shifting all momentum back to himself. In the fifth and final round, the Irishman would find himself in some trouble. Garry was rocked by vicious ground-and-pound strikes at the end of the fight, but would ultimately hang on and survive, capturing a decision victory.
Ian Garry boasts an impressive 16-1 record in MMA. His only loss came to the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310. Even in defeat, Garry still proved he belonged at the top of the division. The Welterweight division is going through massive changes. Gone are the days of Colby Covington and Kamaru Usman dominating the division. The new wave has arrived. With contenders such as Shavkat Rakhmonov, Jack Della Maddalena, Sean Brady, and now Ian Garry, the Welterweight division is rich with young and exciting contenders.
UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad will be defending his title against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315. UFC 315 goes down on May 10th, just two weeks away. Ian Garry officially earned the right to be the main event’s backup fighter in case of an injury. Ian Garry is only one mishap away from contending for a UFC Undisputed Championship, and he has earned it. Garry took the dangerous Shavkat Rakhmonov fight on 21 days' notice. The main event against Carlos Prates would only give Machado Garry 25 days' notice. The bottom line is Garry has proven himself to be reliable in the Welterweight division, something that's greatly needed in modern-day MMA. Ian Machado Garry has the mentality to reach the top of his division, and with skills to match, perhaps ‘The Future’ is now.
