The first UFC welterweight title defense for Islam Makhachev is nearly set, and it appears that Philadelphia will be getting a noteworthy title fight in the division.
Per a report from Alvaro Colmenero, Makhachev vs. Ian Machado Garry is being targeted to headline UFC 330.
Colmenero reports that Michael Morales is out of the running for the next title shot.
Colmenero also added that Makhachev has asked for UFC 329 in July, during the UFC’s International Fight Week, but UFC 330 in August is more likely.
Makhachev surrendered the UFC lightweight championship last year to move up to welterweight. At UFC 322 in November, Makhachev defeated Jack Della Maddalena to become the new welterweight champion.
Garry, the Cage Warriors and UFC veteran, will enter this title shot off a pair of wins over Carlos Prates and former champion Belal Muhammad in 2025.
UFC 330 will take place on August 15 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It will be the UFC’s first visit to Philadelphia since 2019.
Ian Machado Garry might be teasing that he’s next in line to challenge Islam Makhachev; however, Javier Mendez, Makhachev’s coach, is implying that Garry is no threat.
Garry has recently revealed that he is in Georgia, looking to improve his wrestling abilities for a potential title matchup with Makhachev. Georgia is known for producing high-level wrestling talent, including former bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili.
Given the current state of the welterweight rankings, it’s not confirmed who will be the first to challenge Makhachev, but Garry — currently ranked No. 2 — is making a big push.
But according to Mendez, the head of the American Kickboxing Academy, that won’t matter because of Makhachev’s advantages when the fight goes to the mat.
“He does well with Islam on the standup because he’s rangy, he’s tricky, all those — but on the ground, he does okay, but he doesn’t survive on the ground,” Mendez told Submission Radio. “He might survive five rounds, but he won’t get the the best of Islam on the ground. That I’m 100 percent sure about that.
Though Garry has studied judo, he is better known for using his size and range. The 6’3″ welterweight uses his lankiness and frame to get the better of opponents with his striking.
“On the stand up, he’s pretty tricky,” Mendez admitted. “So, one punch can change everything on that. One kick, one punch, one knee…so, that’s a different story. But on the ground, I don’t see him dominating. I see him surviving, possibly…and then the takedown defense, that he is decent, but not great enough to stop Islam from taking him down.”
Mendez also admitted that Makhachev had preferred a matchup with Kamaru Usman, given Usman is a former champion and has perhaps the most star power out of the potential challenger list.
A matchup with Garry, however, is still entertaining and more than welcome.
“I feel good about it,” Mendez said. “He’s a well-known guy. He’s very highly skilled, and I look forward to the challenge.”
Makhachev claimed the welterweight title with a dominant win over Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322. The win made Makhachev the latest UFC fighter to win titles in two different weight divisions during their career.
Garry is 17-1 and most recently bested another former welterweight champion in Belal Muhammad at UFC Qatar two weeks after Makhachev’s title win over JDM.
The UFC has yet to announce the next title challenger at 170. Shavkat Rakhmonov was recently removed from the welterweight rankings due to inactivity, as he suffered another setback due to injury.
Ian Machado Garry has now made his case for the next title shot in a crowded welterweight scene, scoring a win over former champion Belal Muhammad in the co-main event of UFC Qatar.
Machado Garry looked to use his range, while Muhammad appeared to try and pressure and engage in a striking battle with the Irishman. While Muhammad had some control during the opening round, it appeared Machado Garry was landing better with his strikes.
Machado Garry looked to have the upper hand again early in round two, but Muhammad connected a solid right early. Muhammad’s first attempted to get Machado Garry to the ground saw him get back control but unable to score the takedown. Machado Garry fought off another pair of takedown attempts, and he even threatened one of his own.
Machado Garry continued to get the better of Muhammad while using his striking defense to take the third round and win on the scorecards.
Ian Machado Garry Bests Belal Muhammad At UFC Qatar
29-28 Garry. Good fight but there’s no way he deserves a title shot for that performance #UFCQatar
Machado Garry is now 10-1 in the UFC, including two straight wins now since his sole loss against Shavkat Rakhmonov.
Muhammad defeated Leon Edwards for the UFC welterweight championship at UFC 304 but lost it in his first defense against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315. This was his first fight since losing the belt.
On Wednesday, UFC CEO Dana White announed that UFC Qatar will feature a pivotal lightweight showdown in the main event, as top contender Arman Tsarukyan takes on Dan Hooker.
Tsarukyan has not competed since defeating out former 155-pound champion Charles Oliveira by split decision at UFC 300 in April 2024. “Ahalkalakets” was originally scheduled to challenge then-titleholder Islam Makhachev at UFC 311 this past January, but a back injury suffered during fight week forced him to withdraw from the bout.
He is currently riding a four-fight win streak and holds a 9-2 record in the UFC, with four of those victories coming by way of finish.
On the other hand, Hooker returns to action after edging out Mateusz Gamrot by split decision at UFC 305 in August 2024. The 35-year-old New Zealander has long been calling for a showdown with Tsarukyan, but a string of recurring injuries has repeatedly kept him sidelined.
“The Hangman” comes into the fight on a three-fight winning streak and owns a 14-8 record in the UFC, including nine victories by stoppage.
Meanwhile, the co-main event of UFC Qatar will see former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad facing off against Ian Garry. Muhammad returns to the Octagon following a unanimous decision loss to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315 in May, a defeat that ended both his title reign and an 11-fight unbeaten streak. “Remember the Name” currently holds a 15-4 record with one no-contest in the UFC.
Garry was last seen in the Octagon at UFC Kansas City in April, where he bounced back from his first career loss by earning a unanimous decision victory over Carlos Prates. His only defeat came against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 in December 2024. “The Future” currently boasts a 9-1 record in the UFC, including three stoppage wins.
Your #UFCQatar main and co-main event is HERE 🤩 🇶🇦
Ian Garry wants a shot at Khamzat Chimaev. If you’re looking for someone in the UFC who isn’t afraid to stir the pot, Ian Garry is your man. The Irish welterweight has never been one to hide his ambitions, or his opinions, and now he’s set his sights on a challenge that has the MMA world buzzing: a future clash with Khamzat Chimaev.
Ian Garry wants Khamzat Chimaev
“I’m not afraid of anyone, and I believe I can beat everyone in this sport. If there’s a way to do it, I can find it,” Garry said in an interview with Covers.com, adding a nod to Khamzat Chimaev’s reputation but insisting, “I think Khamzat is phenomenal at what he does.. I just believe he’s not fought anyone who can do to him what I could. I love a challenge, and that would absolutely be a challenge. And with what he’s done in his career, and how he’s done it. That would get me excited.”
(Khamzat Chimaev on Instagram)
Ian Machado Garry, always up for a challenge, says a fight with Chimaev would get him excited, and he’s not one to back down from a test. For those catching up, Ian Garry is one of the UFC’s promising welterweights. Ian Machado Garry’s most recent appearance came on April 26, 2025, when he earned a unanimous decision win over Carlos Prates in the main event at UFC Fight Night in Kansas City.
The victory was a bounce-back after suffering his first career loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov in December 2024. Garry, now 16-1, remains firmly in the welterweight title mix and is reportedly in the conversation for a shot at new champion Jack Della Maddalena, though the next bout has yet to be officially announced.
Image: @iangarry/Instagram
Khamzat Chimaev, meanwhile, is making waves in a different division. The stakes couldn’t be higher; a win would put Chimaev at the top of the middleweight mountain and cement his status as one of the sport’s elite. Khamzat Chimaev, meanwhile, last fought in October 2024, where he submitted former champion Robert Whittaker in the first round at UFC 308.
That win cemented his status as a top contender in the middleweight division. Chimaev is now scheduled for his first UFC title shot, taking on reigning middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 on August 16, 2025. The stakes are high, with Chimaev looking to capture gold and extend his undefeated record in what is expected to be one of the year’s most anticipated title fights
While Garry is climbing the welterweight ladder, Chimaev is knocking on the door of middleweight gold. Should their paths cross, expect plenty of fireworks.
Ian Garry is embracing the rise of a new generation of fighters making waves in the UFC’s welterweight division.
The UFC’s 170-pound division has long stood as one of the most talent-rich and historically significant weight classes in the sport. Renowned for its legacy, it has consistently featured elite competition, boasting five UFC Hall of Famers, including legends like Georges St-Pierre and Robbie Lawler.
With many of the welterweight division’s iconic names now retired or well past their prime, a new generation of fighters bringing fresh styles and evolved skill sets has risen to prominence at 170 pounds. In today’s landscape, the division is wide open, with nearly every contender in the top eight posing a legitimate threat to newly crowned champion Jack Della Maddalena.
Ian Garry Says The UFC Welterweight Division Has Never Been More Exciting
During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Ian Garry shared his thoughts on the evolving welterweight division. “The Future” spoke with enthusiasm about the influx of rising talent in the weight class, while boldly asserting that he’s not just part of this new wave—he plans to lead it.
“When you look at the welterweight division right now and the way it’s evolved, I’d argue it’s the most exciting it’s ever been,” Garry said. “You look at the names—people under 30 in that division that are just on a tear. You’ve got Shavkat, you’ve got Jack, you’ve got me, you’ve got [Michael] Morales, you’ve got loads of us that are just young and hungry and have stuff to prove.”
“That’s exciting. When you’ve got that energy mixed with sheer talent—that’s impressive. The answer is always going to be yes. And I’m going to fight them at some point in time, because when I’m the champion, I’m going to be beating up everyone—that’s the next contender, the next best guy.”
Garry last stepped into the Octagon at UFC Kansas City in April, where he delivered a dominant performance to secure a unanimous decision victory over Carlos Prates. The win marked a strong comeback for the Irish standout, who rebounded impressively from the first defeat of his professional career—a loss to the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 in December.
Ian Garry currently boasts a UFC record of 9-1, featuring notable victories over elite competitors such as Michael Page, Geoff Neal, and Neil Magny.
Irish contender Ian Machado Garry has been confirmed as the official backup fighter for the UFC 315 welterweight championship bout between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena in Montreal on May 10.
UFC CEO, Dana White, confirmed the Irishman is the official backup should anything go sideways at the last minute at UFC Kansas City’s post-fight press conference, coming just days after Garry’s decision victory over Carlos Prates.
Despite having fought a full five rounds on Saturday in Kansas City, Garry immediately began preparing to serve as emergency replacement. Coach Diego Lima confirmed the undefeated Irish prospect is cutting weight on two weeks’ notice, positioning himself as “the perfect insurance policy” according to White.
“I’m the official backup, and I’m next. Whoever wins that fight, if that fight goes ahead, that’s my next opponent,” Garry stated, making his intentions clear about securing a title shot regardless of whether he competes at UFC 315.
The welterweight division has been notably volatile, with original title challenger Shavkat Rakhmonov forced to withdraw due to injury, opening the door for Della Maddalena’s opportunity. Garry’s willingness to remain fight-ready despite just competing demonstrates his commitment to championship aspirations.
A UFC Welterweight Championship bout between current champion Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena is expected to headline this event, marking the UFC’s return to Montreal after a nearly decade-long absence since UFC 186 in 2015.
The 26-year-old Garry (15-0) has been vocal about deserving the title shot after competing twice on short notice in recent months, solidifying his position as the division’s emergency option while maintaining his perfect professional record.
Carlos Prates is promising to bounce back stronger after tasting defeat for the first time in the UFC.
Prates collided with Ian Garry in the UFC Kansas City headliner this past Saturday at T-Mobile Center in Missouri. Over five rounds, the Brazilian was largely on the back foot, as Garry’s exceptional footwork and high-volume striking kept him guessing and a step behind.
“The Nightmare” had difficulty establishing his game plan throughout the fight, as he repeatedly faced takedown attempts from the Irishman. It wasn’t until the final round that Prates seemed to find a burst of energy, landing some powerful shots, including a vicious ground and pound.
Gutted by the defeat, Prates turned to Instagram Stories to concisely share his disappointment about not being able to finish the fight the way he had envisioned.
“Unfortunately I couldn’t end the fight and that wasn’t enough. Sorry family, I’ll come back stronger!,” Carlos Prates wrote.
With his defeat at UFC Kansas City, “The Nightmare” saw his impressive four-fight win streak inside the Octagon come to a halt. Prates’ professional record now stands at 21-7, with 16 of those victories coming by knockout.
Meanwhile, Garry has rebounded from the first loss of his professional career, which came at the hands of Shavkat Rakhmonov in a title eliminator at UFC 310 this past December. “The Future” has since improved his record to 16-1, including seven knockout wins.
After suffering his first career defeat in a short-notice outing, Ian Machado Garry, in another fairly short-planned fight, scored a unanimous decision win over Carlos Prates, potentially rebounding as he seeks a title opportunity.
Garry started things off with plenty of low kicks, working his range well. While Prates got in a bit of leg kicking late in the round, he slipped in the closing seconds. Garry landed some hard ground-and-pound, though Prates seemed to take it well. Garry and Prates had several exchanges during the second round, but Garry seemed to get the better of Prates again — courtesy of more distance management and combinations, including one involving a kick that caught Prates’s attention.
Prates seemed to lack urgency, which continued into the third round. Garry landed a combination ending with an uppercut that backed Prates up. Garry would score a takedown not long after, becoming the first fighter to earn one against the Brazilian.
Garry continued to work his game — at one point having landed more than Prates had thrown in terms of strikes — but Prates began to push things by the end of the fourth. This continued into the fifth, with Prates landing a number of combinations and being the fighter coming forward. Garry tried to tie things up, mixing in striking all the while, but Prates ended up landing on top in a takedown attempt.
There, Prates landed serious ground-and-pound that did damage. Prates continued to land powerful shots, but not at a pace that it was enough to finish the fight. Garry survived the round and earned a decision.
Ian Garry Outworks Carlos Prates For Decision Win In UFC Kansas City Headliner
send the fighting nerds 2-3 years dagestan and maybe they can be champs one day, they're gonna get fraud checked one by one starting with prates pic.twitter.com/6Km8gJ80MQ
Garry came into this bout off of his first professional loss at UFC 310, taking a short-notice bout and losing to Shavkat Rakhmonov. Prior to this, the former Cage Warriors welterweight champion had scored victories over the likes of Michael “Venom” Page, Geoff Neal, Neil Magny and Daniel Rodriguez.
Prates’s previous four UFC fights have all been Performance of the Night bonus earning, scoring knockouts against Magny, Li Jingliang, Charles Radtke and Trevin Giles.
UFC Fight Night took place tonight from the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!
In the main event, welterweights Ian Garry and Carlos Prates clashed. While in the co-main event, Anthony Smith and Zhang Mingyang faced off in a light heavyweight matchup.
UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card
Ian Garry def. Carlos Prates via unanimous decision (48-47×2, 49-46)
Zhang Mingyang def. Anthony Smith via TKO: R1, 4.03
David Onama def. Giga Chikadze via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
Abus Magomedov def. Michel Pereira via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
Randy Brown def. Nicolas Dalby via KO: R2, 1.39
Ikram Aliskerov def. Andre Muniz via TKO: R1, 4.54
Preliminary Card
Matt Schnell def. Jimmy Flick via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
Evan Elder def. Gauge Young via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
Chris Gutierrez def. John Castaneda via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
Da’Mon Blackshear def. Alatengheili via unanimous decision (30-27×2, 29-28)
Malcolm Wellmaker def. Cameron Saaiman via KO: R1, 1.59
Jacqueline Amorim def. Polyana Viana via submission: R2, 1.49
Timothy Cuamba def. Roberto Romero via TKO: R2, 3.55
Joselyne Edwards def. Chelsea Chandler via TKO: R1, 2.31
Preliminary Card Highlights
Joselyne Edwards def. Chelsea Chandler
Joselyne Edwards earned a first-round TKO of Chelsea Chandler.
Soon enough, though, the Irishman may have a champion from below to worry about.
As talk of a showdown between Makhachev and Ilia Topuria continues to grow, reports have suggested that the lightweight kingpin is awaiting the result of Belal Muhammad’s title defense against Jack Della Maddalena before deciding whether to remain at 155 pounds or pursue two-division glory up at welterweight.
And should the latter come to fruition, Garry sees trouble in the future of the 170-pound roster.
“I think he’s an absolute disaster for everyone in the (welterweight) division if he comes up and doesn’t have to cut weight,” Garry said during a recent interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri. “I would love to test myself against him.”
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.
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.
UFC Kansas City is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this weekend’s lineup.
The upcoming event takes place Saturday, April 26, at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The main card begins at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT.
Ian Garry’s confidence ahead of UFC Kansas City has only risen after watching one of opponent Carlos Prates’ past losses.
The promotion’s trip to Missouri to stage a UFC Fight Night inside T-Mobile Center on April 26 was originally set to feature a main event between hard-hitting light heavyweights Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree.
The stakes will be similarly high, though, with both Ian Garry and Carlos Prates looking to ascend into the championship conversation at each other’s expense.
And when it comes to his chances of doing so, the Irishman seemingly got a boost in self-belief after seeing the manner with which Prates once suffered defeat on the regional scene.
“Here, look at this. This is a video of Carlos Prates and his true fighting spirit,” Ian Garry said. “It’s called being a quitter. He had just been beaten up all the rounds prior, puts his hand up, shakes his head, says, ‘I’m done,’ and then just drops to the ground. … Deep down he knows, he’s not a fighter.”
Ian Garry watches old footage of Carlos Prates and calls him a 'quitter' 😬
"This is a video of Carlos Prates and his true fighting spirit, called being a quitter…
While the April 26 headliner marks Garry’s first outing since a narrow defeat to Shavkat Rakhmonov last December, Prates will enter it with his undefeated UFC record still intact, having most recently moved to 4-0 in the Octagon with a knockout of Neil Magny.
A late switch-up means UFC welterweight contenders Ian Garry and Carlos Prates will headline in Missouri later this month.
The promotion’s trip to Kansas City to stage a UFC Fight Night inside T-Mobile Center on April 26 was originally set to feature a main event between hard-hitting light heavyweights Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree.
The stakes will be similarly high, however, with both Garry and Prates looking to ascend into the championship conversation at each other’s expense.
An excited Garry expressed as much while giving his first public reaction to the news on social media. “The Future” encouraged his supporters to attend the event and vowed to put on a show.
“It’s official…me versus Carlos Prates, April 26. I’m excited,” Ian Garry said. “The UFC go, ‘Ah, we need someone. Who do we need? Who do we call?’ You call me. Why? ‘Cause I’m a real fighter who wants to fight the best in the world.
“I’m going to show everybody how good I am,” Garry continued. “Carlos Prates is awesome, but this is my world. I love to fight! There’s nothing more I love in this world than fighting. … Ireland, get your tickets, get your flights. Brazil, get your tickets, get your flights.”
The Irishman most recently fell short in another late-notice contest opposite Shavkat Rakhmonov last December. The result marked his first defeat in the UFC and professional MMA as a whole.
Prates, meanwhile, has been on a charge since breaking through on MMA’s biggest stage. The Brazilian Fighting Nerds standout has won four straight, most recently knocking out Neil Magny.
The UFC’s return to Kansas City now features an electrifying new main event.
On Tuesday, the UFC confirmed a high-stakes welterweight showdown between Ian Garry and Carlos Prates as the headline bout for the Fight Night card set to take place on April 26 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
Meanwhile, Prates was last seen in November, where he secured a first-round knockout over Neil Magny at a Fight Night event. “The Nightmare” is riding a wave of momentum, holding a perfect 4-0 record in the UFC. He enters this matchup on a ten-fight win streak, with every victory coming by knockout.
The Brazilian was initially set to square off against Geoff Neal at UFC 314 on April 12, but “Handz of Steel” was forced to withdraw from the fight due to an injury.
With the addition of this matchup, the UFC Kansas City lineup now includes:
Ian Machado Garry vs. Carlos Prates: welterweight
Anthony Smith vs. Zhang Mingyang: light heavyweight
Giga Chikadze vs. David Onama: featherweight
Michel Pereira vs. Abus Magomedov: middleweight
Ikram Aliskerov vs. Andre Muniz: middleweight
Randy Brown vs. Nicolas Dalby: welterweight
Jimmy Flick vs. Matt Schnell: flyweight
Evan Elder vs. Ahmad Hassanzada: lightweight
Jaqueline Amorim vs. Polyana Viana: strawweight
Cameron Saaiman vs. Malcolm Wellmaker: bantamweight
Chelsea Chandler vs. Joselyne Edwards: women’s bantamweight
But while “Nomad” was looking ahead to a rescheduled showdown with Muhammad, another injury — this time to the Kazakh star — has once again scuppered those plans.
During a recent video uploaded to his Instagram account, Garry didn’t shy away from expressing his bemusement with the UFC’s call. The Irishman questioned why he wasn’t the promotion’s first thought, especially given his belief that Rakhmonov’s injury derived from damage sustained in their fight last December.
“Why aren’t I fighting for the title? I had a chat with my agent. I rang him when he told me about this news and I was livid — still am to this day,” Ian Garry said. “I had a number one contender’s fight, where the guy (Rakhmonov) now has to get knee reconstruction and is out for a year.
“I’m not fighting for a world title because I’m coming off a loss and they’re giving it to a guy who’s been injured for a year, and they think that’s more exciting. But they’re wrong,” Garry continued, taking credit for Rakhmonov’s injury. “The title fight was meant to be Shavkat Rakhmonov taking on Belal Muhammad, but Shavkat is out injured. I wonder how that happened? Now they’re pulling in a guy who hasn’t fought in a year…hasn’t been active. They’ve given it to Jack Della Maddalena. It’s okay. Don’t worry. I’ll get you all. You’re all mine.”
Prior to losing his undefeated status at the hands of Rakhmonov, Ian Garry had risen the ranks with victories over Neil Magny, Geoff Neal, and Michael “Venom” Page.
UFC welterweight contender Ian Garry believes his performance in defeat against Shavkat Rakhmonov cemented him as second in the chasing pack.
Garry had a late-notice opportunity to secure his first title shot on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage earlier this month at UFC 310. He stepped in for the injured Belal Muhammad to face Shavkat Rakhmonov, a fellow undefeated up-and-comer at 170 pounds.
While “Nomad’s” championship opportunity had turned into a defense of his top contender status, the Kazakh star emerged with his date opposite champ Muhammad still intact after narrowly outpointing Garry.
“The Future” didn’t lose stock, however, given the competitive nature of his display. But that doesn’t mean he was rewarded with a strong push up the welterweight ladder, on which he remains a few positions off the top five at #7.
During a recent interview with MMA Knockout, Garry was firm in rejecting that placement, insisting that the way he challenged the highly regarded Rakhmonov leaves him as the division’s clear number two contender.
“The way I look at this is that the fight against Shavkat was to be the number one contender in the world and go out and fight for the belt next,” Garry said. “If I’m not the number one contender, of which Shavkat got his hand raised and has now cemented himself, I’m definitely number f**king two.
“That’s the way I look at it. Because there’s no way after that performance, you can’t sit there and say that I’m (not) one of the best in the division,” he continued. “So whatever the rankings want to officially say, it’s okay.”
It remains to be seen what lies in Garry’s future next year. While he was briefly linked toward the headline spot opposite Leon Edwards at UFC London in March, “The Future” has dismissed talk of an outing in Europe if it isn’t in his home country of Ireland.
In the lead up to his scheduled fight with Joaquin Buckley at UFC Tampa, Ian Machado Garry was very vocal about some of the other top contenders in the welterweight division. The #7-ranked competitor specifically called out the likes of Colby Covington and Kamaru Usman for turning down fights with him which led him to accepting a fight against someone ranked lower than him.
Following his comments, Usman responded during an episode of his Pound 4 Pound Podcast alongside Henry Cejudo. The former welterweight champion shared DMs that Garry had sent him during his title reign to show respect and admiration to “The Nigerian Nightmare”.
😳📱 Kamaru Usman reveals a DM Ian Machado Garry sent him in April 2021, which read:
“It’s a pleasure to watch what you do in that cage. Nothing but respect.”
Garry gave his thoughts on Usman revealing these messages during a recent interview with Spaceport Sweden. He says that at the time, he did go out of his way to praise the best welterweight in the world. However, his opinion of Usman has since changed now that he has become a competitor of his at 170-pounds.
The 27-year old doesn’t take back what he once said but did state that he no longer has that same level of respect for Usman.
”I had a lot of respect for him, until he turned me down. That’s a fact. He turned the fight with me down and that’s it. I had a lot of respect for him. I had a lot of respect for him and his career and everything that he did as the champion. And when I was a young kid watching the sport and I was an amateur and I’m watching him fight Gilbert Burns for the world title during COVID and I’m like ‘f**k, this guy’s one of the best we’ve seen’. That was the opinion the world had of him at that point. When that same guy turns down a fight against you, it changes the way you think about him. So I had respect for Kamaru, might be still a little bit, but not much after you turned me down, not much. And I don’t care what his excuses are. I don’t care what his excuses are. You put, you turn down the fight. In my mind, you’re a b***h.”
Ian Machado Garry has been a somewhat divisive character since he first arrived in the UFC in 2021. The Irishman has always been an incredibly self-confident fighter who believes that he is destined to be at the top.
His ascent up the welterweight ladder rubbed some fans up the wrong way though, particularly in his fights with Geoff Neal and Neil Magny. Criticism from other fighters added to the aura surrounding Garry being one of a fighter with something to prove amidst a lot of doubts and negativity.
It certainly seems like the #7-ranked welterweight has started to change his public perception following his performance at UFC 310. For a start, Garry put his money where his mouth is by stepping in to face Shavkat Rakhmonov on short notice in the co-main event.
In a recent interview with Spaceport Sweden, the 27-year old spoke about his changing perception and the reaction he got after he showered “Do Bronx” with praise in both English and Portuguese. He believes that though he’s always going to try and entertain, he wants people to be invested in his journey and story.
”I feel like the fans are just seeing the true me. We’ve started making this vlog on YouTube, which is doing really well. If you haven’t seen it, go check it out. It’s just showing me and my personality more and the fans are seeing it and understanding it. That’s always what I’ve wanted from my Instagram and we’re in a world where social media matters. I’m in the entertainment business, right? I’m a fighter. I’m a competitor. But I’m in the entertainment business. We want people to tune in. We want people to watch. We want people to see and connect. When I think about my Instagram and what I’m doing, I want people to understand and connect to me as a human, as a fighter, as a father, as a husband, whatever it is. It’s why my family matters to me so much. I want people to see that I love my wife. I love my kids. I love my team. I love the way we travel and I want people to see that be inspired by it.”
He may not have got the result he wanted at this past weekend’s pay-per-view, but that hasn’t stopped UFC welterweight contender Ian Garry from taking a victory lap of sorts.
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.
During an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Garry reflected on his losing performance in “Sin City,” highlighting the difficult circumstances that his first title eliminator in the UFC came in.
Ultimately, aside from having his hand raised, Garry seemingly doesn’t think the night could have gone much better in terms of proving that his self-belief when it comes to beating everyone in his path on MMA’s biggest stage is well placed.
“I went in there on short notice against the scariest man in the division and I made him human,” Garry said. “I proved to the world how talented I am against a guy who they thought was unbeatable. … There’s no argument in my mind that when that fight finished, you can’t sit there and say anything else other than I am the scarier fighter.
“He didn’t beat me anywhere,” Garry continued. “Significant strikes, I won. The grappling exchanges, I was winning; I was defending and shooting down everything he was doing. The gameplan and everything that I had come up (with) and told my team I wanted to do, it worked. It’s a matter of seconds and four to five extra shots, and you’re talking about five rounds in my favor.”
With those comments in mind, the Irishman will evidently be entering 2025 with even more confidence and expectation for himself. First things first, Garry must return to winning ways, and from there, perhaps another chance to secure an opening shot at gold in his UFC career will await.
For the time being, though, focus will be on the UFC 310 co-main event winner as Rakhmonov pursues a second official booking opposite Muhammad in the new year.
The Irishman was originally set to feature in 2024’s final UFC fight next weekend in Tampa, but the withdrawal of champion Belal Muhammad from his scheduled defense on Dec. 7 saw “The Future” agree to a short-notice showdown with a fellow undefeated contender in “Nomad.”
And the pair fought out the kind of competitive battle many had anticipated from two former training partners who had never tasted defeat on the professional stage. Ultimately, one man’s ‘0’ had to go.
While that’s dealt a setback for Garry, he seems far from downbeat in the aftermath of his loss.
During his post-fight press conference, Garry explained why he sees UFC 310 as a victorious night in his career.
“I’m humble in victory and in defeat and always have been, and I do not feel like I lost today,” Garry said. “My hand might not have been raised, but I came out and I fought a giant, I came out and I fought the boogeyman, and I showed that he’s f*cking human. I went out there on three weeks’ notice and I saved this event. I saved this card against the scariest man in the division and I went out there and I stopped almost everything.
“I showed that I can hang with the single best in the division and I proved tonight that I can absolutely be a champion,” Garry continued. “He won by opinion, and that’s okay, I can live with that, and I’m very happy with my performance tonight.”
Having maintained immense confidence in his abilities and future rise to top spot at 170 pounds, Garry will no doubt look to continue his development in 2025 and bounce back to winning ways.
UFC 310 took place tonight from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!
In the main event, Alexandre Pantoja put his flyweight title on the line against Kai Asakura. While in the co-main event, Shavkat Rakhmonov faced Ian Machado Garry in a welterweight matchup.
Make sure to catch all the UFC 310 results and highlights as they happen below!
UFC 310 Results:Main Card
Flyweight Championship Main Event: Alexandre Pantoja def. Kai Asakura via submission: R2, 2.05
Welterweight Co-Main Event: Shavkat Rakhmonov def. Ian Garry via unanimous decision (48-47×3)
Heavyweight: Ciryl Gane def. Alexander Volkov via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
Featherweight: Bryce Mitchell def. Kron Gracie via KO: R3, 0.39
Featherweight: Dooho Choi def. Nate Landwehr via TKO: R3, 3.21
Preliminary Card
Light Heavyweight: Dominick Reyes def. Anthony Smith via TKO: R2, 4.46
Welterweight: Vicente Luque def. Themba Gorimbo via submission: R1, 0.52
Featherweight: Movsar Evloev def. Aljamain Sterling via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
Welterweight: Bryan Battle def. Randy Brown via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
Early Preliminary Card
Catchweight (195lbs): Eryk Anders def. Chris Weidman via TKO: R2, 4.51
Flyweight: Joshua Van def. Cody Durden via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-26, 30-27)
Welterweight: Michael Chiesa def. Max Griffin via submission: R3, 1:53
Lightweight: Chase Hooper def. Clay Guida via submission: R1, 3.41
Heavyweight: Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Lukasz Brzeski via TKO: R1, 4.51
Preliminary Card Highlights
Kennedy Nzechukwu def. Lukasz Brzeski
Kennedy Nzechukwu got the first finish of UFC 310 with a first-round TKO of Lukasz Brzeski in their heavyweight fight.
A POWERFUL RIGHT FROM KENNEDY NZECHUKWU TO KICK OFF #UFC310 💥
T-Mobile Arena played host to Octagon action on Dec. 7, as the mixed martial arts leader closed out its PPV schedule for 2024 with a stacked lineup that featured a championship, top contenders, experienced veterans, and some promising prospects.
Of note were victories for reigning UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja, top welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov, ranked featherweight Bryce Mitchell, “Korean Superboy” Dooho Choi and the undefeated Movsar Evloev.
And before attention turns to next weekend’s year-ending UFC Fight Night in Tampa, Florida, there remains some business to attend to backstage at UFC 310.
Shortly after the main event’s ending, Dana White will appear in front of the media to reveal the recipients of the Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses before answering questions. The victorious fighters from UFC 310 will also take queries from the press in reaction to their performances.
With that said, see below for a live stream of the UFC 310 post-fight press conference via the UFC’s official YouTube channel, commencing at 1:15 AM ET.
In the co-main event of UFC 310, Shavkat Rakhmonov defeated Ian Garry to earn his biggest win to date via unanimous decision.
The two undefeated contenders fought an incredibly tactical contest. In multiple rounds, there was very little to separate them.
Throughout the early frames, in particular, the number one contender was able to stay just in front of the Irishman by being more active and landing the more impactful strikes. Though he wasn’t able to threaten with his grappling, “Nomad” did use it effectively to take away the movement and speed of his opponent.
Garry was able to pick things up at points, especially in the fifth round, which was his best of the fight. After taking Rakhmonov’s back, “The Future” searched for the rear-naked choke but, despite several attempts, he wasn’t able to get fully under the neck.
In his post-fight interview, Rakhmonov was joined in the cage by welterweight champ Belal Muhammad, whom he was set to fight at this event until the titleholder withdrew due to an injury. They shared a respectful exchange, during which “Remember the Name” congratulated Rakhmonov.
Fans and fighters reacted on social media as the Kazakh star moved to 19-0 and, for the first time in his career, got his hand raised via the scorecards.
Shavkat is a relentless sumbitch. Respect to Ian Garry for stepping in on 3 weeks notice against the division’s boogeyman and showing out. Fuck Colby Covington again #UFC310
I know this fight isn't everyone's cup of tea since casuals hate grappling, but this fight was entertaining. Congrats to Rakhmonov for the win and credit to Machado. #UFC310
If you’re still doubting @bullyb170 as a champion and his skills, you’re in for another rude awakening. I think Belal should feel pretty confident after what he saw tonight. #UFC310
