Ian Machado Garry Predicts Islam Makhachev vs Carlos Prates UFC Clash

Islam Makhachev vs Carlos Prates could be one of the most intriguing potential matchups in the UFC welterweight division, and Ian Machado Garry has offered an interesting prediction about how the fight might unfold.

Makhachev recently faced Garry in a welterweight title fight at UFC 330. Despite Garry’s reputation as a technically polished striker, Makhachev relied heavily on his elite grappling and control to secure a unanimous decision victory after five rounds.

Following that result, Carlos Prates made his intentions clear by expressing interest in challenging Makhachev for the welterweight championship. Garry has now assessed the potential matchup and believes Prates brings a particularly aggressive style that could create problems for the champion.

Why Ian Machado Garry sees Carlos Prates as a different challenge

Garry’s assessment focuses on the stylistic differences between himself and Prates. Although both fighters possess dangerous striking skills, Garry believes Prates approaches exchanges with greater aggression and is more willing to commit to damaging attacks.

That aggression could be especially important against a fighter like Makhachev, whose game is built around forcing opponents into situations where he can use his wrestling, positional control and submission skills.

At the same time, Garry does not believe Prates has the same level of ability when it comes to preventing an elite grappler from imposing his game. That creates a fascinating contrast.

Prates could potentially have the power and offensive confidence to hurt Makhachev on the feet, but Makhachev could attempt to neutralize that threat by taking the fight into grappling exchanges.

Islam Makhachev’s biggest advantage would remain his grappling

The central question surrounding a potential Makhachev vs Prates matchup is whether Prates can keep the fight standing for long enough to make his striking count.

Makhachev has repeatedly demonstrated that opponents cannot simply rely on their striking credentials against him. His ability to close distance, secure takedowns and control opponents gives him a second layer of offense that can completely change the rhythm of a fight.

Against Garry, that approach proved effective over five rounds. Garry entered the contest with the tools to make the champion work at range, but Makhachev’s grappling threat limited how freely the Irishman could operate.

Prates would therefore face a similar tactical problem. Every aggressive combination could create an opportunity for Makhachev to change levels and initiate a grappling sequence.

Could Carlos Prates find the knockout?

This is where the potential matchup becomes particularly interesting. Garry believes Prates has the kind of aggression that could give him a different chance against Makhachev.

Rather than allowing Makhachev to dictate the tempo, Prates could attempt to pressure him and look for openings with powerful combinations. A single clean connection could dramatically change the contest.

That does not mean a knockout would be easy to achieve. Makhachev’s ability to manage distance and avoid unnecessary exchanges would be crucial. He would likely have little reason to spend extended periods trading strikes if he could instead exploit Prates’ grappling vulnerabilities.

The matchup would consequently revolve around a simple but difficult question: can Prates create enough striking opportunities before Makhachev gets him into his preferred grappling positions?

Garry believes Prates could win and set up a rematch

Interestingly, Garry’s prediction goes beyond simply identifying Prates as a difficult opponent for Makhachev. He believes the Brazilian could potentially defeat the champion.

If that happened, Garry would see a path toward another opportunity against Makhachev. The former challenger has already made it clear that he believes he could perform differently in a second meeting.

Garry has pointed to greater offensive volume as one of the adjustments he would make. He believes he could use more kicks, increase his activity and attack with greater intent if given another opportunity.

That confidence means a Prates victory would potentially create an intriguing storyline: Garry could pursue the new champion after already having five rounds of experience against Makhachev’s style.

What Garry learned from his UFC 330 loss

Although losing a title fight is a major setback, Garry appears to view the experience as an opportunity to identify areas for improvement.

His biggest takeaway was the need for greater volume. Against a fighter as difficult to solve as Makhachev, isolated moments of success may not be enough to change the scorecards.

Garry also believes he could have incorporated more of his natural striking style, particularly his kicking game and attacks toward the head.

The lesson is significant because fighting Makhachev presents a unique tactical challenge. A striker cannot simply focus on offensive output without considering the threat of the takedown. Every attack must be balanced against the possibility of giving the champion an opening to enter the clinch or initiate a takedown.

Makhachev vs Prates: key stylistic comparison

This contrast explains why the matchup could be so compelling. It would place Makhachev’s championship-caliber grappling against one of the division’s most dangerous striking approaches.

Why aggression could help Prates — and hurt him

Prates’ aggression could be both his greatest weapon and his biggest risk.

Against many opponents, constant forward pressure can force mistakes and create knockout opportunities. Against Makhachev, however, overcommitting to attacks could expose the exact openings the champion needs to begin a takedown.

A successful strategy would therefore require controlled aggression. Prates would need to threaten Makhachev without becoming predictable or giving him easy access to the legs and hips.

The challenge is particularly difficult because Makhachev can make opponents hesitate. Once a fighter starts worrying about being taken down after every combination, their striking output can naturally decrease.

Garry remains confident about a potential rematch

Despite his defeat, Garry has maintained strong confidence in his own ability. He believes another fight against Makhachev could produce a different result because he now has direct experience with the champion’s approach.

That confidence is understandable from a competitive standpoint, but a rematch would still require significant tactical adjustments. Knowing what Makhachev wants to do is one thing; consistently preventing him from doing it for 25 minutes is another.

Garry’s comments nevertheless show that he has not allowed the loss to diminish his long-term ambitions. He continues to view himself as a future championship-level fighter and appears determined to remain in the title picture.

What a Prates victory would mean for the welterweight division

If Prates were to defeat Makhachev, the consequences for the UFC welterweight division could be substantial.

A new champion would immediately create fresh contender matchups and could alter the competitive landscape. Garry would have an obvious argument for another title opportunity if he continues winning, while other elite welterweights would also attempt to position themselves for a championship fight.

A Prates victory would also validate the idea that an aggressive, high-impact striking style can overcome Makhachev’s grappling advantage. That would give future contenders another blueprint to study.

However, if Makhachev dominates Prates through wrestling and control, it would reinforce the champion’s ability to neutralize dangerous strikers and demonstrate why his grappling remains such a difficult puzzle for the division.

Potential fight scenarios to watch

• Prates controls the striking range: The Brazilian could use pressure and combinations to prevent Makhachev from comfortably setting up takedowns.
• Makhachev gets early takedowns: If the champion establishes control quickly, Prates could be forced to spend valuable energy defending and escaping.
• Prates finds a clean counter: A well-timed strike could instantly change the momentum and give the challenger a realistic knockout opportunity.
• Makhachev mixes his attacks: Combining striking setups with takedowns could make Prates hesitate and reduce his offensive freedom.

Who has the clearer path to victory?

On paper, both fighters have a recognizable route to success. Prates needs to maximize his striking while limiting opportunities for Makhachev to establish grappling control. Makhachev, meanwhile, would likely benefit from forcing the fight into positions where his wrestling becomes the dominant factor.

Garry’s prediction gives Prates credit for possessing a more aggressive offensive mindset than the Irishman brought into their title fight. But Garry also acknowledged an important weakness: Prates may not be as effective at stopping the grappling.

That could ultimately become the deciding factor. Against an elite wrestler, having dangerous striking is not enough if the opponent can repeatedly dictate where the fight takes place.

The bigger picture for Ian Machado Garry

Garry’s comments are also important because they show where his career could go after his first title challenge against Makhachev.

Rather than treating the loss as the end of his championship ambitions, Garry appears focused on improving his game and remaining active at the highest level. His confidence suggests he still sees another title opportunity as a realistic objective.

A potential Prates-Makhachev matchup could therefore indirectly affect Garry’s future. If Prates wins, Garry could eventually attempt to avenge his own loss against a new champion. If Makhachev retains, Garry may need to build another winning streak before another title opportunity becomes realistic.

Final Verdict

Islam Makhachev vs Carlos Prates would present a classic MMA stylistic battle between elite grappling and aggressive striking. Ian Machado Garry believes Prates’ greater aggression could make the matchup different from his own fight with Makhachev, while also acknowledging the Brazilian’s vulnerability against high-level grappling.

The potential contest would likely be decided by whether Prates can maintain enough distance and striking freedom to threaten Makhachev before the champion establishes control. For Makhachev, the priority would be turning the fight into a grappling contest and limiting Prates’ opportunities to land damaging strikes.

Garry’s confidence in Prates is notable, but his prediction also highlights the central mystery surrounding the matchup: can Carlos Prates land the decisive shot before Islam Makhachev can impose his grappling game? That question would make the potential welterweight title fight one of the division’s most fascinating stylistic matchups.