Ian Machado Garry is furious with the UFC welterweight elite for allegedly turning down fight offers.
Ian Machado Garry will step up on weeks’ notice and face the unbeaten Shavkat Rakhmonov in a pivotal clash at UFC 310. The former Kill Cliff teammates will fight in a No. 1 welterweight contender bout after titleholder Belal Muhammad’s withdrawal due to injury.
Garry was originally supposed to headline UFC Tampa against Joaquin Buckley before the Rakhmonov matchup became available. Since defeating Michael ‘Venom’ Page at UFC 303, Garry has waited patiently for an opponent to sign on the dotted line, including a failed attempt to lure Colby Covington to a fight with him.
One of Garry’s previously targeted opponents, according to the man himself, was Kamaru Usman. The former UFC welterweight champion hasn’t fought at 170lbs since falling to Leon Edwards in back-to-back title fights.
While Usman isn’t phased by some of the recent criticism, Garry believes the heat recently aimed in his direction is warranted.
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Ian Machado Garry accuses ‘weak-minded’ Kamaru Usman of targeting easier matchups
During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Garry exploded on Usman.
“Usman has a big chest and little balls,” Garry said. “He looks good, and plays the part, but when it matters between the legs, he’s a little man. That’s my outlook on it…him and Colby are older, been through the division, fought these guys. Now they’re getting to the end of their careers and they want to choose the better stylistic matchups. But I guarantee this: Usman is going to try to push for a fight with Jack Della Maddalena because he’s seen how easily Gilbert Burns was able to take him down.
“If I was in Usman’s shoes, why would I wanna fight the guy that’s long, rangey, difficult to deal with, when I can fight a guy who I watched two people back-to-back be able to take him down quite easily? I guarantee you Usman is going to try to push for the JDM fight, because he’s weak-minded.”
As of this writing, Usman hasn’t responded to Garry’s remarks.
Kamaru Usman told critics to ‘shut up’ after declining UFC 310 short-notice offer
Usman hasn’t fought since a middleweight loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 last year. He’s targeting a return to the Octagon in 2025, although it’s uncertain if he’ll return to welterweight or middleweight for his next fight.
Garry is undefeated in his UFC tenure with recent wins over Daniel Rodriguez, Geoff Neal, and Neil Magny. A win over Rakhmonov will likely earn him a welterweight title shot against Muhammad.
Usman and Garry could potentially be on a collision course if the former titleholder returns to the welterweight division. For now, tensions are ramping up between two of the division’s biggest stars.
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