Ian Machado Garry Shows Respect to Islam Makhachev, but Is Confident He Can Dethrone the Pound-for-Pound King
Ian Machado Garry has his crosshairs on Islam Makhachev. The Irishman wants to beat the Russian fighter and prove to the world that HE IS THE BEST 170-pounder on the planet.
Garry, who is now the number three-ranked welterweight contender, has racked up wins over Belal Muhammad and Carlos Prates in 2025 to climb the ladder and make his case for a title shot.
Islam Makhachev, on the other hand, vacated his 155-pound throne in 2025 after four successful title defenses. He moved up to welterweight, dethroned Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322, and claimed two-division glory. The newly minted champion is expected to make the first defense of his title post-Ramadan 2026.
Garry, who has been calling out Makhachev for the past few months, recently uploaded a clip in which he lauded the 34-year-old’s accomplishments and then added that if he can beat the P4P king, it would change the way people look at ‘The Future.’ He said:
“Islam Makhachev is one of the greatest fighters walking the planet earth right now. The number one pound-for-pound fighter on the planet, a two-weight world champion, a former Sambo and European world champion. He is absolutely unbelievable at what he does. He is one of the most dangerous men walking the planet right now. When you beat Islam, it changes the way everyone in the world thinks about you, and I’m going to do it.”
Check out Ian Machado Garry’s comments below:
Despite Garry’s 17-1 record, many believe he has not done enough to get a title shot. However, the Irishman is true to his style. He prefers calculated, low-risk fights and focuses on consistent output over knockouts to get his hand raised.
Islam Makhachev is rumored to face Michael Morales next
Islam Makhachev is rumored to make the first defense of his welterweight title against Michael Morales later this year. Morales and Makhachev had previously confirmed that the UFC brass wanted them to fight in January. However, both parties declined. Morales wanted rest, recovery, and vacation over a title shot, and Makhachev, who had just made his welterweight debut in mid-November of last year, wasn’t seeking a title defense in early 2026.
While Morales wants to fight another top contender in the meantime, he doesn’t mind waiting either and fighting straight for the title.
Alongside the Ecuadorian and Ian Machado Garry, Kamaru Usman, Shavkat Rakhmonov, and Carlos Prates also remain in the mix and could be next in line for a welterweight title shot.
