Carlos Prates Predicts Big Upset in UFC 330 Headliner Between Islam Makhachev and Ian Machado Garry

Carlos Prates, a fellow fighter who has shared the Octagon with Ian Machado Garry, is anticipating a significant upset in the UFC 330 main event. Prates believes that "The Future," Ian Machado Garry, possesses the necessary skills to dethrone Islam Makhachev and claim the UFC Welterweight Championship.

The upcoming UFC 330 card in Philadelphia will feature a highly anticipated showdown between Makhachev and Garry for the 170-pound title. This marks Garry's first opportunity to compete for UFC gold and headline a pay-per-view event, stepping in as the first welterweight title challenger for Makhachev.

While Makhachev is currently considered the strong favorite and is ranked as the top pound-for-pound fighter, Garry has expressed confidence in his ability to shock the mixed martial arts world. Prates, though not predicting a finish, shares Garry's optimism for an upset victory, suggesting Garry can win the fight by decision.

In a statement shared via UFC's X page, Prates elaborated on his prediction: "UFC 330, Ian Garry is gonna beat Makhachev by decision. I don’t know if unanimous decision or split decision, but it’s gonna be a decision."

Prates' perspective is informed by his own experience fighting Garry. Although Prates ultimately lost their bout by unanimous decision, he came close to securing a comeback victory. Following their fight, Prates and Garry developed a friendly rapport, with Garry even envisioning a future rematch for the welterweight title.

For Garry to fulfill his vision, he must become only the second fighter in professional MMA history to defeat Makhachev. The current welterweight champion has not suffered a loss since a knockout defeat in 2015. This setback did not derail Makhachev's career, as he went on to set records for lightweight title defenses before making the move up to welterweight.