“I’ve spent more time smoking than not smoking. So, for me, it’s normal. I smoke before the fight, on fight day, it’s just normal,” Carlos Prates told Full Send MMA ahead of his UFC Kansas City showdown with Ian Garry. ‘The Nightmare’ has been terrorizing welterweights with his vicious left hand, but after facing adversity against ‘The Future’, people started pointing fingers at his smoking habits.
Prates is one of those fighters with a tough past, and smoking became part of his life at a young age. He picked up the habit at just 15 years old, and it’s stuck with him ever since. Even before this fight, the Brazilian opened up to Ariel Helwani, saying, “I’m trying to smoke a little bit less, not because I’m going to fight, but because I’m trying to get heavier and stronger.” However, he made it clear that quitting entirely isn’t on the table for him.
Although the Sao Paulo native came up short, he was close to finishing Ian Garry in the 5th round with a brutal barrage of ground and pound shots. But after going the full distance, he seemed to lose the sting on them. Despite the loss, many have praised Prates for his performance, including MMA vet Josh Thomson, who was impressed by what he saw and had only one piece of advice for the Brazilian.
Thomson on the ‘Weighing In’ podcast with John McCarthy said, “Man I thought Ian Garry looked good. The movement was there. Also too with Prates. If you would’ve went earlier. In just spurts, not even a lot, and made him, shoot more often. He would have been a lot more tired, like down the stretch you would’ve had more success. But the lesson that I learned by watching Prates is man, like you should probably stop smoking.”
He added, “You were so close! I’m like man if you have quit smoking, you’d have a little more output. Just different ways of looking at it, right? He looked like he had the cardio, but he was exhausted in the 5th. Obviously, he was trying to get him outta there. But, all he had to do was a little bit more.”
November 9, 2024, Las Vegas, Nv, Las Vegas, Nv, United States: Neil Magny and Carlos Prates meet in the octagon for a 5-round bout at UFC Apex for UFC Fight Night – Magny and Pirates on November 9, 2024 in Las Vegas, NV, United States. /PxImages Las Vegas, Nv United States – ZUMAp175 20241109_zsa_p175_434 Copyright: xLouisxGrassex
Couldn’t agree more with ‘The Punk’ here! If Carlos Prates can dominate fighters like Li Jingliang and Neil Magny while dealing with heavy lungs, and still go the distance against Garry, it’s exciting to imagine what he could do with proper conditioning. If he can get his breathing right, he’d become a beast, someone who could carry that power deep into the 5th round without gassing out.
The fight didn’t go in the favor of the Brazilian, but he did receive a heartfelt gesture from his opponent, Ian Garry. The two share a unique bond, both fluent in Portuguese, and Garry took the time to show his respect and camaraderie after the battle.
Ian Garry interacts with Carlos Prates after UFC Kansas City victory
After his massive short-notice unanimous victory at UFC Kansas City, Ian Machado Garry showcased not only his skills in the cage but also displayed his class. ‘The Future’ was definitely encouraging, but also carefully avoiding close exchanges with Carlos Prates in the pocket. It was clear that Garry felt for ‘The Nightmare’ much like he does for other Brazilian fighters. Following the fight, he had nothing but words of appreciation for his opponent, even offering a helping hand after Prates expressed interest in a rematch for the title.
Ian Garry in the backstage interaction said, “You’re sinister. You have a very strong heart, thank you for accepting the fight.” Prates replied, “I feel we’re going to see each other once again, you know, maybe for the title.” Garry replied, “Your hands, I want to say to you, if you want help to go to the top I will come back to Brazil. You are Brazilian and I want all the Brazilians to go to the top.”
Ian Machado Garry is already set as the back-up for UFC 315’s main event fight between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena. Meanwhile, Carlos Prates still needs some improvements before getting his title shot. If they ever meet once again, who do you think wins the rematch?
The post “You Should Probably Stop Smoking” – Carlos Prates Gets a Hard-Hitting Advice From Ex-UFC Vet After Loss to Ian Garry appeared first on EssentiallySports.
