Ian Machado Garry Makes Bold Claim, Vows to Defeat ‘Greatest Fighter’ Islam Makhachev
It has been several months since Islam Makhachev defeated Jack Della Maddalena to capture the welterweight title dominantly. The Dagestani showcased elite control throughout the fight, neutralizing the former champion and securing a clear unanimous decision victory.
Since claiming gold, Makhachev has been challenged by multiple top welterweights eager to test themselves against the pound-for-pound ace. Among them is Ian Garry, who hopes to reignite the historic Irish vs Dagestan rivalry once fueled by Conor McGregor.
Unlike the brash approach of McGregor, Garry has shown respect, openly acknowledging Makhachev’s skill, experience, and championship pedigree. Still, Garry remains confident, believing his movement and fighting IQ can hand Makhachev a rare defeat.
“The number one pound-for-pound fighter on the planet, a two-weight world champion, and a former Sambo and European world champion. 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,” said Ian Garry via Instagram.
Ian Garry rides a two-fight winning streak, defeating Carlos Prates and Belal Muhammad, rebuilding momentum after his lone setback. Those victories revived confidence following his loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov, reminding fans of Garry’s sharp skills and flair inside the octagon.
The Irish contender consistently energizes arenas, blending technical striking, confidence, and charisma that naturally draw loud crowd reactions. Despite momentum, Islam Makhachev appears uninterested, suggesting Garry lacks McGregor’s star power. For the pound-for-pound king, larger names promise stronger pay-per-view returns, making Garry a lesser priority.
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Islam Makhachev’s manager believes Kamaru Usman is a tougher challenge than Ian Garry
Following his title win, Islam Makhachev publicly called out former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. The Dagestani believes beating Usman enhances his legacy more than facing other contenders, despite criticism questioning Usman’s age and decline.
Experts argue that Usman appears older and easier, while Ian Garry insists that younger fighters deserve opportunities instead. In a recent interview, Manager Ali Abdelaziz explained why Makhachev vs. Usman outweighs a potential fight with Garry.
“If you compare Kamaru Usman to Ian Garry. He’s the toughest match-up (for Makhachev), but don’t tell me Ian Garry, he’s the guy people are jumping over. He just lost to Shavkat, and he was almost finished by Prates. It’s not like a guy who’s going to sell out an arena or something like that. The math doesn’t add up for me. He’s not the guy people think he is,” said Ali Abdelaziz via MMA Junkie.
Both Islam Makhachev and Usman share management under Ali Abdelaziz, making the matchup financially massive and strategically appealing. Nevertheless, Usman has actively promoted the potential clash, despite criticism surrounding his age. Fans remain intrigued as to whether the UFC shares this enthusiasm and moves quickly to announce the blockbuster fight officially.
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