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Ian Machado Garry calls for UFC welterweight title shot at Fight Night

football27 April 2025 06:00| ยฉ Reuters
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Ian Machado Garry survived a late scare from Carlos Prates, earning a unanimous decision in a bounce-back effort to cap off the welterweight main event Saturday at UFC Fight Night in Kansas City, Mo.

Garry won on the judges' scorecards, 48-47, 48-47, 49-46.

Having complete control of four of five rounds with elusive movement, feinting, wrestling and off-balance striking attacks, Garry (16-1 MMA) said that he was unfazed by Prates' comeback-seeking attempt at a fifth-round TKO.

"I was not hurt," Garry said after he was awarded the decision over Prates (21-7 MMA). "I was conscious at every moment. I know how dangerous that man is. I have nothing but respect for what he and his team (The Fighting Nerds) do."

Garry revealed that he is the official backup fighter for UFC 315's welterweight title fight on May 10 between champion Belal Muhammad (24-3) and Jack Della Maddalena (17-2).

Mingyang Zhang ended Anthony Smith's MMA career on a sour note in the co-main event on Saturday, defeating the former UFC light heavyweight title challenger by first-round TKO at 4:03. Zhang landed a flurry of punches and elbows to overwhelm the Nebraska native before the fight was called off.

Despite the outcome, Smith said he was proud of what he accomplished over an up-and-down career.

"I'm just gonna be grateful it happened," Smith said in the Octagon following the loss. "I appreciate you guys."

Smith retired from MMA with 25 UFC appearances, winning 13. Zhang (19-6 MMA) still has not seen the second round in any of his career wins, while Smith (37-22 MMA) ended his journey on a three-fight tailspin.

David Onama earned a unanimous decision against Giga Chikadze in a featherweight bout, sweeping the cards by 29-28 scores. Onama (14-2) said he was happy to secure a win in his hometown of Kansas City, calling it "crazy" while paying respect to Chikadze (15-5) by dubbing him a "legend." Onama has won four straight, handing Chikadze his second consecutive defeat.

Middleweight Abus Magomedov outlasted Michel Pereira by unanimous decision, taking all three judges' scorecards 30-27, 30-27, 30-27. Magomedov (28-6-1) has won three in a row, adding onto an undefeated 2024 that saw him defeat the likes of Brunno Ferreira (26-6-1) and Walley Alves (25-6-1). Pereira (31-13) has lost two in a row, having won eight straight before then.

Welterweight Randy Brown secured his eighth KO/TKO win by becoming the first fighter to finish Nicolas Dalby (regardless of method) by landing an overhand right. Brown (20-6) needed 1:39 of Round 2 to secure the win after Dalby's nose was severely compromised just one round earlier.

Brown has won three out of his last four fights. Dalby (23-6-1) has lost two in a row, which halted a four-fight unbeaten streak.

Middleweights Ikram Aliskerov and Andre Muniz kicked off the UFC Fight Night main card. Aliskerov (16-2) bounced back from a TKO loss to former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker (26-8) last June by securing a TKO of his own against Muniz (24-7) at 4:54 of the opening round. Muniz has lost three out of his last four bouts dating to February 2023.

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