'They're wrong'… Ian Machado Garry explains why he should get a title shot despite losing his last fight
03/18/2025 07:00 PM
Ian Machado Garry is furious about not getting the title shot opposite Belal Muhammad at UFC 315.
UFC welterweight contender Ian Machado Garry did the promotion a favor by stepping up on short notice to face the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 in December. After Rakhmonov wasn’t able to fight Belal Muhammad this year due to injury, Garry expected to be the next man up, but it didn’t go according to plan.
Muhammad will face Jack Della Maddalena in his first welterweight title defense at UFC 315 in Montreal. Maddalena, unbeaten in his UFC tenure, returns after finishing former title challenger Gilbert Burns at UFC 299.
When the Muhammad vs. Maddalena UFC 315 headliner was announced, Garry flipped out during a phone call with his manager.
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Ian Machado Garry ‘was livid’ after UFC 315 main event leaked
In a recent post to his Instagram, Garry went off on the UFC 315 main event and not getting the title shot.
“Why aren't I fighting for the title? I had a chat with my agent," Garry said. "I rang him when he told me about this news, and I was livid – still am to this day. I had a No. 1 contender's fight where the guy (Rakhmonov) now has to get knee reconstruction and is out for a year. But you know, it's not my fault. I didn't do it. I didn't stab his knee 20 something times and boot the leg off. I'm not fighting for a world title because I'm coming off a loss, and they're giving it to a guy who's been injured for a year, and they think that's more exciting, but they're wrong.
"The world title fight was meant to be Shavkat Rakhmonov taking on Belal Muhammad, but Shavkat apparently is out injured,” Garry continued. “I wonder how that happened? Now they're pulling in a guy who hasn't fought in a year because he's had an operation on his forearm because he broke it in his last fight, hasn't fought in a long time, and hasn't been active. So, they've given it to Jack Della Maddalena because I'm coming off of a loss. That's OK. Don't worry. I'll get you all. You're all mine." (h/t MMA Junkie)
Before the loss to Rakhmonov, Garry earned recent wins over Geoff Neal, Neil Magny, and Michael ‘Venom’ Page. The former Cage Warriors standout is potentially one win away from a title shot after the UFC 315 booking, and he envisions a return later this year.
UFC London winner could leapfrog Ian Garry, Shavkat Rakhmonov for next title shot
Making matters worse for Garry, the winner of the UFC London main event this weekend between Leon Edwards and Sean Brady could leapfrog him for a title shot. Edwards returns after losing the belt to Muhammad at UFC 304 last July, and Brady is on an impressive win streak.
That leaves Garry waiting in the wings for his next potential opponent as he looks to get back into the title mix. Garry has repeatedly called out Colby Covington, but that fight might not be on his radar after Covington’s most recent defeat to Joaquin Buckley.
Garry believes he deserves to be ranked ahead of Edwards in the welterweight rankings, despite a loss in his last fight against Rakhmonov. He almost tapped out Rakhmonov at UFC 310 in a wild fifth-round scramble between the two former teammates.
Garry has a chip on his shoulder after getting passed up by the UFC brass for the next title shot. Expect the Irish star to fight furiously in his next Octagon appearance.
