Former UFC champion Kamaru Usman didn’t hold back in response to Ian Machado Garry’s recent taunts and allegations.
Ian Machado Garry stepped up on short notice to face fellow unbeaten Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310. Ahead of the event, he had Kamaru Usman on his mind, after the former champion turned down the slot that Garry eventually accepted.
Garry lost to Rakhmonov by unanimous decision at UFC 310 last Saturday in Las Vegas. It was the first defeat of his career after recent wins over Geoff Neal, Neil Magny, and Michael ‘Venom’ Page.
Despite the loss, Garry’s stock arguably didn’t budge after the defeat to Rakhmonov. He nearly finished Rakhmonov in the later rounds after struggling to find his timing early on in the fight.
Ahead of UFC 310, Garry took several shots at Usman, who hasn’t fought at 170lbs since falling to Leon Edwards in back-to-back title fights. He criticized Usman and Colby Covington for not accepting bookings with Garry in favor of other opportunities.
It didn’t take long for Usman to address Garry in light of the Irish contender’s first career setback at UFC 310.
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Kamaru Usman to Ian Machado Garry: ‘Who the f*** is that guy?’
During a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Usman responded to Garry’s allegations by questioning his worthiness of facing him in the cage.
“Does he even deserve that?” Usman said. “Leading up to this fight, a lot was being said, made a lot of [things up]. I don’t run from anybody! No one. I run from no one, and I don’t know too many guys that are going to run from anyone, because this is the game!
“We fight to make money. If we don’t fight, we don’t get paid. Anyone in the UFC has to step in there in order to get paid,” Usman continued. “So the notion that ‘Oh yeah, they were scared of me’. Like who are you? Who are you that I, of all people, are scared of you? I guess he was upset because he wanted me to be his late-notice replacement for his fight. Who the f*** is that guy for me to be a late replacement for?”
Usman hasn’t fought since a middleweight loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294. In addition to his response to Garry’s comments, Usman reiterated that he’s still recovering from wear and tear sustained earlier in his career.
Usman wants to return to the Octagon in 2025 once he’s fully healed and in shape. Before back-to-back losses to Edwards, Usman was thought of as arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC.
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Kamaru Usman plans on welterweight return against ‘worthy’ contender
Usman had previously teased a full-time move to middleweight, but after Garry’s taunts, he may postpone those plans. A matchup between Usman and Garry could potentially come to fruition in 2025 depending on Usman’s return timeline.
Before the loss to Rakhmonov, Garry was unbeaten in his professional MMA career, including a Cage Warriors title win before signing with the UFC. The 27-year-old is expected to be in the UFC welterweight title conversation for years to come.
Usman is searching for his first win since defeating Covington by unanimous decision at UFC 268. He defended the welterweight belt against Jorge Masvidal and Gilbert Burns before Edwards dethroned him at UFC 278.