Reigning UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev has broken his silence following a passionate callout from Irish contender Ian Machado Garry in the aftermath of UFC Qatar.
Garry's Big Win and Bold Challenge
The dramatic scene unfolded on Saturday night after Ian Machado Garry secured the most significant victory of his career, defeating former champion Belal Muhammad via a points decision. While the 28-year-old had vowed to knock out Muhammad and fell short of that promise, he delivered a slick, tactical performance that cemented his status as a top-tier welterweight.
Seizing his moment on the microphone, Machado Garry immediately turned his attention to the division's kingpin, issuing a direct challenge to the champion who was sitting cageside. This bold move has now triggered a response from the titleholder himself.
Makhachev's Cautious Interest
When questioned by media about the Irishman's callout, Makhachev acknowledged the potential matchup. "Yeah, that will be interesting," the Russian stated. "He's also a good fighter. He's on a good winning streak and he's young. I think it'll be interesting. We'll see."
The champion, however, offered a measured assessment of Garry's performance against Muhammad, noting: "He didn't surprise me yesterday. If he surprised the UFC, then maybe he will be next."
This potential title shot comes despite the fact that Machado Garry's current winning streak stands at just two fights. These victories, over Carlos Prates and now Belal Muhammad, followed the sole defeat of his professional career – a narrow points loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov in December that halted his impressive 15-0 start as a professional mixed martial artist.
The Rakhmonov Question
Makhachev also addressed the elephant in the room during his interview: the status of undefeated contender Shavkat Rakhmonov. Many fans and analysts still view the Kazakh fighter as the true number one contender, despite his recent inactivity due to injury.
The champion was direct in his assessment of the situation. "[He] hasn't fought for over a year," Makhachev said of Rakhmonov. "A contender can't sit out for a year with injuries and then come fight for the belt."
Makhachev revealed the two had a brief, cordial interaction in Doha, saying, "We said hello [in Qatar], he congratulated me. We just shook hands." He left the door open for a future matchup, adding, "If he recovers, and the UFC decides he's next, why not?"
The backdrop to this brewing title picture was UFC Qatar, where both fighters were present in supporting roles. Rakhmonov cornered his teammate Asu Almabayev to a victory over Alex Perez, while Makhachev helped coach his own teammate Tagir Ulanbekov, who unfortunately lost to Kyoji Horiguchi.
This all comes just one week after Makhachev dominated Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 to claim the welterweight crown. That decision victory marked a monumental achievement for the 34-year-old, coming just six months after he vacated the lightweight belt following a record four successful title defences at 155lb.
In collecting a second UFC title and surpassing the championship defences of his legendary coach and childhood friend Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev has firmly established his own legacy. Now, the MMA world waits to see whether Ian Machado Garry will be the next man tasked with challenging it.
