Carlos Prates brutally honest on why Ian Machado Garry hasn’t headlined UFC event

Carlos Prates claims he’s the A-side in his fight with higher-ranked contender Ian Machado Garry.

After beginning his UFC career with four-straight KO’s in 2024, ‘The Fighting Nerds’ star Carlos Prates finds himself in his second main event in a row against Ian Machado Garry.

Prates smoked perennial contender Neil Magny at UFC Vegas 100 last November to earn himself a ranking.

Now, the 31-year-old is set to headline UFC Kansas City this Saturday from the T-Mobile Center in a Fight Night card featuring a handful of stars such as Michel Pereira, Anthony Smith and Giga Chikadze.

Coming off a title eliminator loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310, this is Machado Garry’s first UFC main event spot in 10 fights.

READ MORE: Ian Machado Garry sends Carlos Prates scary warning ahead of UFC Kansas City main eventEmbed from Getty ImagesCarlos Prates calls Ian Machado Garry too ‘boring’ to headline on his ownLooking at the 15-1 resume of Machado Garry, it turns out Prates isn’t all that impressed with what he sees from the calculated striker.

Machado Garry has a 38% finish rate in the UFC with five of his fights going the distance, clearing scary KO artists like Geoff Neal and Michael ‘Venom’ Page in controversial decision victories.

Compared to his 100% KO rate, Carlos Prates says ‘boring’ Machado Garry only has the main event spotlight this weekend because of him.

“I’ve been with the company for 1 year,” Prates told MMA Hoje.

“2 main events, and 4 knockout bonuses…

“This kid’s been in the UFC for 4 years and hasn’t won a single bonus in his life. A bunch of decisions, boring ass fights,” Prates said of Machado Garry.

“If he’s fighting in the main event today, it’s because I chose him. I said I wanted to fight him.”

Carlos Prates: ‘You will go out with a defeat but with a full pocket’Machado Garry has a sole bonus in the UFC for his headkick KO of Daniel Rodriguez in 2023.

The Irishman has the chance to make another $50K with a finish of Prates, who’s looked unstoppable in the UFC as of late.

Machado Garry accepted this fight with Prates on relatively short notice, taking shots at the Brazilian over social media, labeling him a ‘quitter’ and fake fighter.

Prates, who has since responded, says Machado Garry will make more money with this short-notice opportunity, saying he’ll be thanking him for it after he knocks him out on Saturday.

“You’ll make some money there,” Prates said of his upcoming opponent (h/t: Central do MMA).

“After he wakes up, he’ll have to say: ‘Thank you Carlos Prates, you made me make good money…’

“You will go out with defeat but with a full pocket,” Prates added.