Ian Machado Garry is not just exchanging punches ahead of UFC Kansas City, he is also trading verbal jibes. Days before his headliner bout against Carlos Prates, the Irish welterweight attacked his opponent, labeling him the weakest link in Brazil’s breakout team, ‘The Fighting Nerds.’ However, that was hardly the most shocking part. What is the real headline? ‘The Future’ passed over Prates in favor of a lesser-known teammate—one who, according to fans and pundits, has drawn early similarities to none other than Conor McGregor. So, who is it? Well, that rising star is Mauricio Ruffy, an unranked lightweight who is quietly collecting victories and recognition.

The Brazilian, who has been part of ‘The Fighting Nerds’ since 2016, has a perfect 3-0 record in the Octagon. His spinning back kick finish of King Green at UFC 313 quickly went viral and is now regarded as one of the top knockouts in UFC history. Moreover, Ruffy has been compared to Conor McGregor owing to his unique karate stance. In his bout against James Llontop at UFC 309, Joe Rogan said that the Brazilian looked like a giant version of the Irishman. Even Din Thomas joined the express at UFC 301 and said, “I said it yesterday when I heard there was something special about this Ruffy kid, and when I look at him now, I’m making a comparison to a young Conor McGregor.”

But wait! Even Garry took to his Instagram handle last month and made comparisons between the duo. “His style is phenomenal, and I love to watch it. It kind of reminds me of an old-school Conor McGregor. His style is beautiful. I think movement is next level, and I’m excited to see how his career unfolds at the moment. He’s absolutely one of my favorite fighters in the UFC.”

And in a more recent take, Garry has now declared Ruffy as the best of the legendary bunch. “The way Ruffy moves, the flow, it’s beautiful,” Garry told Shak MMA. Ian Garry did not stop there. He rated the four primary members of ‘The Fighting Nerds,’ with Prates at the bottom. “I think Carlos Prates is the worst of the four, and I think Mauricio Ruffy is the best,” he stated. “Then you look at someone like Caio [Borralho], who’s talent everywhere. He’s an absolute fridge of a man. Plus, Jean Silva, he just loves fighting.” Garry definitely didn’t conceal his admiration for the entire team, but when it came to fight-night stakes, he made his feelings obvious.

With UFC Kansas City just around the corner, the tension is building up. ‘The Nightmare’ has a perfect UFC record, with four consecutive knockouts and no fights going to round three. Garry, however, refuses to be intimidated, brushing off the statistics as he prepares to face what he considers to be the least dangerous member of the team. Whether his statements are real or part of a premeditated mental game, Garry’s message is clear: the true superstar isn’t the one across from him, but the one standing in his corner. But will that be enough? Well, Belal Muhammad has made his prediction.

Belal Muhammad makes his pick between Ian Garry and Carlos Prates

While Garry’s mind games drew attention to Ruffy, Belal Muhammad maintained his focus on the two guys who will fight in the Octagon. The reigning welterweight champion has a lot on his plate with his title defense right around the corner, but he hasn’t disregarded the buzz coming out of UFC Kansas City. Despite Garry’s loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov and the ensuing reaction, ‘Remember The Name’ still sees something in the Irishman’s skill set. Enough to make a bold public statement.

“I think Ian Garry gets it done this weekend,” Muhammad tweeted, choosing his words with the precision of a sniper. That one-liner may appear casual, but in the welterweight jungle, even a tweet is a power move. Muhammad isn’t only predicting who will win; he’s also hinting at who might join him in the cage next. ‘The Future,’ a fighter who has spent years being disregarded, is now being recognized by the man with the gold. And even that, in the fight game, can be momentum.

But this is where things become a little bit complicated. The welterweight division is stacked, and the Irishman is frustrated about being overlooked for UFC 315 in favor of Jack Della Maddalena. That wrath, combined with the agony of a defeat to Rakhmonov, could either inspire a breakthrough or cause another setback. With Brady’s comeback still unknown and Rakhmonov out injured, Garry might vault his way back into contention with a strong victory over Prates.

However, for that to happen, he requires more than words, shade, and admiration for teammates. He needs a war—and a victory. What do you think? Will Ian Garry be able to emerge victorious at the end of the night? Let us know in the comments.