Garry out Thinks & out Works Prates in Kansas City
Ian Garry is back in the win column and the conversation for a title shot.
Ian Garry’s last two fights came when the UFC needed him I.E. short notice. Unlike December this fight largely played out how Garry envisioned. The Irishman was outclassing his Brazilian counterpart. A mix of Garry’s footwork and consistent offense stopped Prates, who was 4-0 in the UFC entering the fight, from sitting down on his strikes. The number seven ranked contender offering multiple looks firing teap and switch kicks to all levels. A sharp jab and tempo breaking takedowns kept Prates guessing. For the first three rounds’ Prates was rendered offensively ineffective and had going away from his kick that were landing early on. In the championship rounds, the vet of over 100 fights between MMA, Kickboxing, and Muay Thai found his body kicks and a left-hand drawing blood from Garry’s nose. A furious comeback in the fifth round from the number twelve ranked contender would fell short but brought the contest back to a competitive affair.
Anthony Smith walked to the octagon in Kansas City already having announced it would be the final time. While it was Smith’s final fight. The night belonged to his opponent Zhang Mingyang who sliced up the former title challenger with innovative use of his elbows. Mingyang’s third, first round finish in the UFC should see him take Smith slot in the ranking. There’s a lot to be excited about a fighter who has never seen a second round.
David Onama will be debuting in the Featherweight rankings after a comeback decision win over Giga Chikadze. Onama putting Chikadze on his back in the second and third rounds. Abus Magomedov will also be ranked, but at Middleweight after outworking Michel Pereira.
Randy Brown entered the knockout of the year conversation after stopping Nicolas Dalby in the second round. Brown wobbled Dalby with a right hand, landed another right with Dalby’s back on the fence, and a third right hooks sent Dalby into a face plant. Ikram Aliskerov started the main card off by walking down Andre Muniz and sitting Muniz down with and left hook before finishing with strikes on the ground.
Young fighters stood out on the prelims. After consecutive submission wins Da’Mon Blackshear showed his striking off as he picked apart Heili Alateng over three rounds. Malcolm Wellmaker scored a one punch knockout of Cameron Saaiman with a counter right hook that Wellmaker fired off while eating a Saaiman right hand. Jaqueline Amorim submitted Polyanna Viana for a fourth consecutive win. And Timmy Cuamba showed patients and tight technique before stopping Roberto Romero with a jump knee. Full Results
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