UFC Kansas City’s Ian Machado Garry will get promotional push

Paul Felder expects Ian Machado Garry to get preferential remedy from the UFC after stepping up on brief discover once more.

Machado Garry (15-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) takes on Carlos Prates (21-6 MMA, 4-0 UFC) April 26 within the UFC on ESPN 66 fundamental occasion at T-Cell Heart in Kansas Metropolis, Mo. The principle occasion got here collectively on brief discover after the unique headliner between Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree was scrapped.

Machado Garry didn’t have a battle booked, whereas Prates was already in camp for Geoff Neal at UFC 314 on April 12, earlier than Neal withdrew. This can mark the second-straight time Garry takes a short-notice battle after he was pulled from his UFC on ESPN 63 headliner vs. Joaquin Buckley to face Shavkat Rakhmonov per week earlier in a five-round title eliminator at UFC 310. He misplaced the bout by unanimous determination.

“I’ve acquired to provide an enormous shoutout to Ian Machado Garry for stepping in but once more in opposition to a prime contender, in opposition to a really harmful opponent like Carlos Prates, who’s simply been on a roll since he’s entered the UFC – knocking all people out, ending everybody,” Felder instructed ESPN. “However Ian Garry is aware of that these are the moments that it’s important to reap the benefits of.

“These are the moments that the UFC goes to provide you favors afterward in your profession, goes to try to assist push you to the highest. You scratch their again, they’ll scratch yours. I find it irresistible. He’s displaying that he’s acquired the toughness and isn’t afraid of anyone on this division.”

Prates has torn via his opposition to this point within the UFC, incomes Efficiency of the Night time bonuses in all 4 of his knockout wins – most just lately Neil Magny within the UFC Battle Night time 247 fundamental occasion.

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC on ESPN 66.