Ian Machado Garry Presses Welterweight Title Aspirations, Challenges Islam Makhachev While Undermining Division Rivals

Following his unanimous decision victory over former champion Belal Muhammad at UFC Qatar on Saturday, Ian Machado Garry has emphatically declared his readiness for a championship opportunity, directly calling out newly crowned welterweight king Islam Makhachev. Garry’s win, which elevated his impressive UFC record to 8-0 and his overall professional mixed martial arts standing to 15-1, served as a significant statement in a highly competitive division, despite the bout lacking a definitive finish. The Irish contender wasted no time post-fight in outlining his case for the immediate title shot, leveraging his unblemished UFC run and a burgeoning rivalry narrative against some of the division’s most prominent figures.

The co-main event clash in Qatar saw Garry navigate a challenging opponent in Belal Muhammad, a veteran known for his relentless pace and grappling prowess. While the fight concluded with all three judges scoring in Garry’s favor, it did not feature the highlight-reel knockout many observers might have anticipated from "The Future." Nonetheless, the victory cemented Garry’s position within the upper echelon of the 170-pound division, placing him firmly in contention alongside other highly-ranked welterweights such as Shavkat Rakhmonov, Michael Morales, and former divisional king Kamaru Usman.

Garry’s primary target, Islam Makhachev, recently ascended to the welterweight throne at UFC 322, adding a second divisional title to his resume after reigning as the lightweight champion. Makhachev’s move to welterweight and subsequent championship capture has ignited new possibilities for the division, and Garry views himself as the rightful first challenger. The Dubliner articulated a compelling narrative rooted in the historic rivalry between their respective mentors, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor, suggesting a symbolic passing of the torch in a new era.

"Firstly, I want to say that I have nothing but respect for Islam Makhachev. Nothing," Garry stated during the post-fight press conference, acknowledging Makhachev’s status as the pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter globally. "The guy is the pound-for-pound No. 1 in the world and the champion of my division. However, when you come into my division and you are the only thing that stops me, that is in the way of me achieving my dreams, I’m going to make sure that I punch a hole in your head. He has to fight me next."

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Garry’s argument for his immediate title shot is largely predicated on the perceived strength of his resume within the UFC, emphasizing the caliber of opponents he has faced. He asserted that no other contender has navigated a "deeper division" by challenging a diverse array of fighters across the rankings. "There is nobody that has fought a deeper division, that has fought the guys from top to bottom," Garry elaborated, listing a series of notable victories that include Daniel Rodriguez, Neil Magny, Geoff Neal, Michael Page, Carlos Prates, and now Belal Muhammad. Each of these opponents represented significant challenges at various stages of Garry’s ascent, contributing to his undefeated streak within the UFC.

The burgeoning "Khabib vs. Conor" protégé narrative, as framed by Garry, adds an intriguing layer to his championship pursuit. Islam Makhachev, a dominant grappler with strong ties to Dagestani wrestling phenom Khabib Nurmagomedov, embodies the next generation of that fighting lineage. Conversely, Garry openly positions himself as the spiritual successor to Conor McGregor, known for his striking prowess and charismatic persona. "Islam Makhachev is the protégé of Khabib. I am the protégé of Conor, right?" Garry declared. "This is the new wave of Dagestan. A more technical on the feet, a more technical grappler than Khabib. I am a longer, faster, more versatile version of Conor, right? It’s the perfect fight to make."

Garry’s challenge to Makhachev was direct and unreserved, offering to meet the champion on his terms. "He has to take me down. I have to keep it on the feet. He can choose it wherever he wants, the ball’s in his court, whenever he’s ready, whenever he wants. If he wants to do it in Dagestan, Russia, I will see him there. I’m not afraid of any man walking this Earth, but he has to do the right thing now. He has to do the right thing. He has a duty as champion of the welterweight division to fight the best in the world. Tonight, I proved I’m the best in the world."

While Garry’s call for a title shot is robust, the competitive landscape of the welterweight division presents several other compelling options for Makhachev. Former champion Kamaru Usman has been frequently mentioned as a potential opponent, a matchup that would offer Makhachev a high-profile fight against a widely recognized name. Usman’s recent history includes a series of high-stakes bouts, though his immediate physical condition has been a subject of speculation.

Garry, however, was quick to dismiss Usman’s relevance in the current title picture, citing the former champion’s recent medical procedures. "Kamaru Usman has just had double knee surgery," Garry stated, suggesting that Usman’s physical readiness is compromised. He further characterized Usman as "irrelevant" and a "has-been," implying that any matchup between Makhachev and Usman would be a calculated move by Makhachev’s camp to secure an "easy" victory against a fighter with name recognition, rather than a genuine challenge. "It’s Khabib’s camp being smart and trying to get a has-been who has name value for Islam to get his 17th consecutive win. That’s a cop-out as a champion. That fight cannot happen because that is not the right thing to do. That is not the duty of the world champion. He’s meant to fight the best in the world, of which that is me."

Another prominent contender, Shavkat Rakhmonov, also found himself subject to Garry’s scrutiny. While Garry remains undefeated in the UFC, his sole professional loss (15-1 overall) occurred against Rakhmonov in a Cage Warriors bout prior to his entry into the promotion. Despite this history, Garry expressed respect for Rakhmonov but cast doubt on his immediate availability for a title fight, again citing health concerns. "Shavkat Rakhmonov has had two knee surgeries in a row, so both of them are very struggling right now, aren’t they?" Garry remarked. He further asserted, "I busted his knee up pretty bad in that fight just like I did to Belal tonight, right? He has had two knee surgeries, the first one failed, he’s still checking the second one out. We won’t see him for very long." While Garry’s statement regarding "busting his knee up" in their prior bout contradicts the fact that Rakhmonov defeated him, his primary point revolved around Rakhmonov’s current injury status.

The welterweight division also features rising star Michael Morales, an undefeated Ecuadorian fighter who recently made a significant impact at UFC 322 with a first-round knockout victory over Sean Brady. At 26 years old, Morales represents a promising talent, and his swift ascent has drawn considerable attention. However, Garry believes Morales is not yet ready for a title shot, labeling him a "flash in the pan" and arguing that Morales has not accumulated the depth of experience or faced the same level of competition.

"He’s flash in the pan," Garry said of Morales. "He’s not done what I’ve done. He’s not had the road that I’ve had. He’s not fought the guys that I’ve had. I just beat Carlos Prates and I just beat Belal Muhammad, two guys that are the best in the world. Before that, I fought Shavkat. Before that I fought MVP, before that I fought Geoff Neal. The list goes on." Garry reiterated his belief that his journey through the division has been uniquely challenging. "There is no one who has been tested more than me, there is no one that has been through it more than me. The highs, the lows, the booing, whatever it is, I am a polarizing figure, but I am the best in the world, so you cannot count me out."

The UFC’s decision regarding Makhachev’s first welterweight title defense will be closely watched. While Kamaru Usman offers a legacy matchup and Shavkat Rakhmonov represents an undefeated, dangerous contender, Ian Machado Garry’s recent victory, his unblemished UFC record, and his aggressive campaign for the title have undeniably positioned him as a strong candidate. His articulate and assertive post-fight comments have not only challenged the champion but also sought to diminish the claims of his closest rivals, injecting further intrigue into the welterweight championship picture. The coming weeks are expected to shed more light on the promotion’s plans for Islam Makhachev and the future trajectory of the 170-pound division.