Welterweight contender Ian Machado Garry isn’t too pleased with the idea of Kamaru Usman fighting for the title next.
This coming Saturday, Ian Machado Garry returns to the Octagon when he takes on former champion Belal Muhammad in the co-main event of UFC Qatar.
The Irishman last competed in the Octagon this past April when he dominated Carlos Prates in the UFC Kansas City main event.
And now ahead of his fight against ‘Remember The Name’, Machado Garry has a new target to work towards as this past Saturday, Islam Makhachev became the new champion of the welterweight division.
Machado Garry shuts down idea that Kamaru Usman will fight for the title next
Following UFC 322 in New York, the welterweight division has undergone somewhat of a transition at the top, with the likes of Michael Morales and Prates jumping into the top five of the division.
Despite that, following his title win the Russian champion revealed that he would like to make his first title defense against Kamaru Usman, who has only won one fight in his last four.
Who will win the UFC Qatar main event?
That hasn’t sat well with Machado Garry, though, as he believes the welterweight division revolves around him and his performance will decide who gets the next title shot.
“I believe I am the deciding factor in what happens for the rest of the division,” Machado Garry said at the UFC Qatar media day.
“He’s calling out Kamaru Usman, that’s a has been, someone that used to be, not is right now. When you’ve got the likes of me, Morales, Prates contending to be the next best thing in this division, there’s no question. When I knock out Belal this weekend, I’m the number one contender and the right thing to do for Islam is to defend the belt against me,” he continued.
Islam Makhachev will be in attendance at UFC Qatar
Fortunately for the 28-year-old, Makhachev will be in attendance this Saturday in the Middle East, and Machado Garry could potentially impress him enough to want to fight him.
However, if Machado Garry does get past the challenge of Muhammad but doesn’t get the next title shot, he may sit and wait on the sidelines instead of taking another fight.