Ian Machado Garry erupts on Islam Makhachev, 'irrelevant' Kamaru Usman: 'Sit the f*** back in line and wait'

Ian Machado Garry believes he’s officially separated himself from the rest of UFC’s welterweight contenders.

At UFC Qatar, the brash Irishman kept his unbeaten rise going by cruising past former champion Belal Muhammad in the night's co-main event. The unanimous decision win wasn’t just another notch on Garry's résumé, it also came at a pivotal moment for the division. With Islam Makhachev being crowned the new welterweight king at UFC 322, and fellow contenders Michael Morales and Carlos Prates making noise with highlight-reel finishes, Garry needed a statement in a suddenly shifting title landscape, and he’s adamant he delivered exactly that.

Speaking Monday on “The Ariel Helwani Show,” Garry made it clear he felt no resistance in the biggest fight of his career. While a finish may have eluded him, he sees Makhachev as the only option next.

"I believe it's absolutely the fight to make," Garry said. "I don't believe there's a bigger fight or anyone who's more deserving of the title shot right now.

"It was domination from start to finish. I pieced [Muhammad] up on the feet and did exactly what I said I would do, then I stopped every one of his takedowns. Nobody has ever done something like that to Belal. It was easy. ... It was clean. There was never really any danger on the feet, and there was never a point in the fight where I believed he was going to get me down. Every time he shot, I was a step ahead of him. The separation was simple. It was clinical, it was efficient. I was able to pick him apart."

Garry, 28, may only be riding a two-fight winning streak, but the momentum behind him continues to build. Since suffering his lone career loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov this past December, he’s stayed active and sharp, stacking rebound performances that bolster his case in the title conversation — especially with one of those wins coming against the aforementioned Prates.

Still, the division hasn’t forgotten his setback. Garry's lack of recent finishes and Rakhmonov’s looming presence have been common talking points whenever the Irishman's title prospects come up. Rakhmonov was expected to challenge for the belt already, and if not for injuries, he likely would've done so. Now rumblings suggest he’ll be medically ready by January if the UFC needs him.

Garry, however, isn’t convinced.

"I don't believe a word of that. That's my thing. That's the first thing I think," Garry said of Rakhmonov’s return. "I don't believe a word of that. But also, the sport's moving fast. This man has to get back in there soon. So when you've got someone like me, who had a very, very tough and close fight with that man, he won the opportunity to fight for the title. And due to the fight with me, he has been out injured and not been able to be active whilst I've racked up a win against the current No. 5 in the world and the No. 1 in the world, in Belal Muhammad. So with all due respect to Shavkat — and I have nothing but respect for him — let's talk about him when he's actually back, because he's not right now.

"He's just trying to maintain relevancy by showing up at these fights and being in the picture, and saying he's going to be back. But he's not back. I'm here and I'm ready. The best ability is availability. I busted up that knee so bad that night that he's had two knee surgeries on it since then. One of them failed, and this one — let's see. It's still new."

Of course, Rakhmonov isn’t the only variable in the UFC's welterweight title picture. A wildcard has reemerged: Former champion Kamaru Usman.

Earlier this year, Usman snapped a three-fight skid with a dominant win over Joaquin Buckley at UFC Atlanta, instantly placing himself back among the division’s elite — or at least in his own estimation.

To the frustration of most contenders, Makhachev has openly entertained the idea of Usman as his first challenger. And Garry wants no part of that narrative.

"I don't give a flying you-know-what — I will scream and shout and fight anyone in the world, that fight's not happening," he said of Usman.

"Kamaru Usman is irrelevant. He’s had one win since 2021. He’s the last one on the list who deserves a title shot. The fact that we’re even mentioning his name amongst this title contention is bollocks. He's nowhere near the top. He had one win over a guy who's had nearly double-digit losses in the UFC, in Joaquin Buckley. You've got guys out here that are absolutely destroying the division that are far more deserving than he is. So he can — with all due respect — sit the f*** back in line and wait, fight another fight, get more relevant, and fight someone up the rankings.

"There is no way on God’s green Earth that he is fighting for a world title next. Not when I’m here. Islam Makhachev has a right and a duty as a champion to fight the best guy in the world, the rightful No. 1 contender, and you're looking at him. It's Ian Machado Garry."

Where the UFC ultimately turns next is anyone’s guess. With fresh matchups and surging names everywhere you look, the welterweight division is suddenly one of the most intriguing in the sport. As UFC CEO Dana White said after Makhachev claimed the title, it’s a good problem to have — though exactly where Garry stands in the chaos remains uncertain.