Ian Garry dismisses UFC rankings as he puts himself ahead of Leon Edwards despite recent loss
01/02/2025 10:50 AM
Ian Garry doesn't care about the UFC rankings after his first MMA loss.
'The Future' stepped up on short notice to take on the toughest opponent of his career, Shavkat Rahmonov, in a welterweight title eliminator at UFC 310 on December 7.
Ian Garry gave a good account himself and even threatened with a submission in round five, but he ultimately slumped to a unanimous decision defeat against his former sparring partner.
The 27-year-old now heads into a new year uncertain about what the future will bring after missing out on a fight with 170lb king Belal Muhammad.
Ian Garry disagrees with the UFC rankings
Ian Garry has entered UFC 310 as the #7 ranked welterweight on the roster.
The Irishman remains in the same spot despite losing. However, Joaquin Buckley has leapfrogged him into sixth after his doctor's stoppage win over Colby Covington during the final UFC show of 2024.
'New Mansa' joins Sean Brady, Jack Della Maddalena, Kamaru Usman, Shavkat Rakhmonov, and Leon Edwards on the fairly long list of fighters ranked ahead of Garry right now.
Regardless of his official spot in the pecking order, the 14-1 contender believes he cemented his spot as the best of the rest by pushing Rakhmonov to the brink of defeat last month.
"The way I look at this is that the fight against Shavkat was to be the number one contender in the world and go out and fight for the belt next,” Garry told MMA Knockout.
“If I’m not the number one contender of which Shavkat got his hand raised and has now cemented himself, I’m definitely number f***ing two.
"That’s the way I look at it. Because there’s no way after that performance, you can sit there and say that I’m not one of the best in the division. So, whatever the rankings want to officially say. It’s okay.”
“I know in my heart and my soul, and I see the fans are giving me a lot of love and a lot of respect for that fight. I’m absolutely, in my mind, the number two contender in the world.
"So, could I see the UFC booking me as a replacement [for the upcoming welterweight title fight]? Yes. Do I think it’s realistic? Potentially. However, we’ll see when the cards come.
"If they want that, if they need that. I will say one thing: I will be ready if they want me. Like I always am. Ready, prepared for anyone and anywhere.”
Dana White wants AI rankings in 2025
Garry isn't the only high-profile UFC figure opposed to the rankings.
UFC boss Dana White trashed the rankings throughout 2024 and revealed that he is currently working on replacing the ranking panel, which is made up of media members, with AI.
He said in October: "Do you know what's f****** great about technology? We're not far away from AI actually doing these rankings!
"It'll be a great f***** day when AI starts doing this s***. I'm really excited about that"
A month later, White called on Mark Zuckerberg to help him make AI ranking a reality after Jon Jones missed out on the pound-for-pound top spot to Islam Makhachev.
"I have to get rid of these CLOWNS," White said on his Instagram story.
"@Zuck let's get this AI deal done ASAP!!!!!"
No official announcements have been made about the state-of-the-art system, but it seems to be just a matter of time before White gets his wish and the rankings are left in the hands of AI.
