While UFC welterweight contender Ian Garry is no longer officially unbeaten, but he seemingly still feels it.
Garry had his record blemished for the first time in his professional career at UFC 310 last December, an event he co-headlined opposite a former training partner and fellow rising star at 170 pounds in Shavkat Rakhmonov.
Their contest, which came about after the withdrawal of champion Belal Muhammad from his scheduled defense against “Nomad” due to injury, went the distance inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, with the Kazakh emerging with his undefeated résumé intact.
Despite having his hopes to challenge for “Remember the Name’s” gold this year dented by Rakhmonov, however, Garry appears more enthusiastic and confident about his chances of reaching the top than ever before.
And as he gears up for his chance to prove as much opposite the charging Carlos Prates in Kansas City, Garry said during part one of ESPN MMA's UFC Journey series for this weekend's event that he doesn't recall feeling defeated by Rakhmonov.
The ego in me doesn’t like to admit that my hand never got raised," Ian Garry said. "I still feel like, to this day, I didn’t lose that fight. He was gasping for air, grateful the fight was over. I was ready for more.
Ian Garry and Carlos Prates will top the lineup of Saturday's UFC Fight Night in Missouri, where the likes of Anthony Smith, Giga Chikadze, and Michel Pereira will also be in action.