Ian Machado Garry isn’t giving up in his hunt for Islam Makhachev and the UFC welterweight title.
Makhachev further boosted his pound-for-pound credentials at UFC 322 after vacating his lightweight championship and going on to win a dominant decision over Jack Della Maddalena to become welterweight champion. However, Makhachev has not fought since November, and with June’s UFC White House event being announced without Makhachev being booked for it, it’s unclear when he will return for his first defense of the 170-pound strap.
Garry, on the strength of a 10-1 UFC record, including back-to-back wins over former champion Belal Muhammad and top contender Carlos Prates, has aggressively campaigned for the challenger spot. According to UFC CEO Dana White, Makhachev is dealing with “hand issues.” Garry isn’t buying it.
“Yeah, I heard that, too, but I don’t believe it,” Garry said in an Instagram video. “I don’t know. I don’t know what to believe. I can’t imagine he hurt his hand in the last fight with Jack. So maybe he did it in horse riding? I don’t know. I don’t believe it.
“I think it’s excuses. Everything about me now tells me he’s just—He doesn’t want to fight. He doesn’t want to fight. He doesn’t want to fight. I don’t know if it’s mentally, physically, whatever it is, but… yeah. He’s doing the typical thing that all champions do when they get the belt. They try and maintain their position, maintain relevance by not fighting and staying inactive. When I fight, that all changes.”
Garry also added the following caption:
When I’m champion I will be insanely active
For the most part, Garry has stuck to his word in regards to activity, having fought three times in 2023 and 2024 to quickly work his way up the increasingly competitive welterweight ranks. He won eight straight UFC fights before suffering his lone loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov, who has been snakebitten by injuries since, leaving the No. 1 contender spot open.
During a recent social media exchange, Makhachev’s manager Ali Abdelaziz claimed Garry was not in the running for the welterweight title fight and that he was working on a “big fight” for his client. Abdelaziz didn’t elaborate at the time, though rumors swirled that he meant a grudge match between Makhachev and lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, a suggestion that White has denied was realistically in the works due to Makhachev’s alleged injuries.
Topuria instead faces Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC White House on June 14.
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