Morning Report | Henry Cejudo doubts Ian Machado Garry gets another title shot: ‘How would the UFC want him as champion?’

Henry Cejudo is as confused as anyone as to why Ian Machado Garry was so chummy with Islam Makachev at UFC 330.

Garry failed in his bid to wrest the welterweight title from Makhachev in Saturday’s main event, and while “The Future” had his moments during the fight, he also showed a concerning lack of aggression at times, seemingly content to hug and chat with Makhachev rather than press the action. Post-fight, UFC CEO Dana White criticized Garry for lacking a “killer instinct,” and Makhachev himself sounded confused, saying, “This is not a game.”

Cejudo joined in on the criticism Monday on an episode of his Pound 4 Pound podcast.

“My act, I was cringe, 100 percent,” Cejudo said. “I’ll be the first one to tell you it was an act. Everybody knows me. I’m just a dude that likes to have fun, but my actions at that time spoke louder than my words. He just glazes, bro. Since the beginning of this whole thing, ‘Islam Makhachev, he’s the greatest of all time. Look at his team. Look at this.’ Like, just glazing these dudes prior to this fight. In between rounds, kissing them, hugging them, first round, second round, third round, fifth round. Like, how would the UFC want him as a champion?

“Just on the promotional side. How do you promote a dude like that? I thought Ian would be able to pull a little bit more out or make it a little bit more complicated, but I think he wants to be famous. Call me crazy. I just think he wants to be famous and liked. Even Dana White said, ‘Where’s that killer instinct coming in the fifth?’ A performance like that—Not even the performance, really, an attitude like that, fighting against the pound-for-pound king, it was f*cking annoying. At first I was like, Ian, he loves his family, loves his kid, great. But man, it is freaking hard to really get behind him really f*cking want to cheer for him and be a fan.”

Cejudo, a former two-division UFC champion and Olympic gold medalist in wrestling, rarely shied away from pre- or post-fight trash talk during his fighting career. He gave himself the nickname “The King of Cringe”, and though his antics weren’t always well-received, he made sure fans were talking about him come fight week, whether in a positive or negative light.

Garry has also developed a polarizing personality, one mostly built on respectful banter. That’s not going to cut it in Cejudo’s eyes if Garry plans to become a bonafide UFC star.

“His attitude towards this of trying to be liked or loved by people, it’s f*cking horrendous,” Cejudo said. “I don’t know how else to say it. What the f*ck is this? Is this The Mickey Mouse Club? Go in there, talk your shit, try to beat his ass, rather than try to hug him and kiss him and high five him at the end of the round. What the f*ck? This isn’t sparring. He is not your teammate. He has what you want, go out there and snatch it.

“I don’t foresee the UFC at any moment giving this dude another opportunity, not based on his fighting style, just based strictly on his f*cking fighting attitude.”

Prior to the loss to Makhachev, Garry had suffered just one defeat in 11 UFC appearances. He defeated top contender Carlos Prates and former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad to position himself for his UFC 330 title opportunity.

Cejudo believes it will be a long time before Garry gets that chance again—if ever.

“No, I don’t, but I would blame them if they give him an opportunity, hell yeah I would blame them,” Cejudo said when asked if the UFC deserves any responsibility for Garry’s disappointing outing. “If Hunter [Campbell’s] the one that’s doing that and giving guys like that an opportunity, that’s not Hunter’s fault. That’s not Dana’s fault. That is all Ian Garry’s.

“Now, if they give him, ‘You win one fight, you get another title shot,’ that’s f*cking a bunch of horseshit. Then that’s on them, because you already saw that this dude’s not willing to talk shit to create a storyline to get fans involved. It was respect, round after round of hugging, and telling him how great he is. Even Islam said, he’s like, ‘Why must we do this every single round? This guy’s crazy.’”

Contender. Islam Makhachev questions why Carlos Prates and Michael Morales didn’t fight at UFC 330 to determine No. 1 contender.

Beef. Sean Strickland calls Din Thomas ‘sh*t coach’ for reaction to Gillian Robertson loss at UFC 330.

Apology. Din Thomas apologizes to Gillian Robertson for his ‘despicable’ decision to retire at UFC 330.

Questions. Max Holloway questions Islam Makhachev walking around with 2 belts, Makhachev responds.

Plea. Anthony Smith pleads not guilty following arrest on multiple felony charges; next court date set for September.

UFC 330 Report. What do we make of Islam Makhachev’s win over Ian Machado Garry?

UFC 330 post-fight presser.

SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Sean Strickland and Tyron Woodley beefing.

Raul Rosas Jr. (12-1) vs. Raoni Barcelos (22-5); UFC Vegas 121, Sep. 26.

Alexander Volkanovski (28-4) vs. Movsar Evloev (20-0); UFC 333, Oct. 24

Petr Yan (20-5) vs. Merab Dvalishvili (21-5); UFC 333, Oct. 24

Lone’er Kavanagh (10-2) vs. Ramazan Temirov (20-3); UFC 333, Oct. 24

Alexander Volkov (40-11) vs. Rizvan Kuniev (14-3-1, 1 NC); UFC 333, Oct. 24

Arnold Allen (21-4) vs. Aaron Pico (14-5); UFC 333, Oct. 24

Dominick Reyes (16-5) vs. Azamat Murzakanov (16-1); UFC 333, Oct. 24

Abus Magomedov (29-7-1) vs. Cam Rowston (15-3); UFC 333, Oct. 24

Nikita Krylov (31-12) vs. Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev (10-0); UFC 333, Oct. 24

Grant Dawson (24-3-1) vs. Nurullo Aliev (12-0); UFC 333, Oct. 24

Sean Brady (19-2) vs. Gabriel Bonfim (20-1); UFC Vegas 124, Nov. 7.

I’ll say it: Not only do I think Ian Machado Garry fights for a UFC title again, I think he wins the UFC title someday (after Islam Makhachev is retired, of course). Am I completely out to lunch? Vote below. — Lee

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