Ian Machado Garry has detailed his reasoning for a way he leap-frogged Shavkat Rakhmonov for a title shot.
Lower than a yr ago at UFC 310, Garry suffered the only real defeat of his skilled profession to the unbeaten Rakhmonov in Las Vegas. The Kazakh star immediately faced off with then-champion Belal Muhammad, and appeared to be on course for the title.
Who should Ian Machado Garry fight next?
Nevertheless, it emerged that the injuries Garry had inflicted upon Rakhmonov had caused such damage that he required surgery, and he hasn’t fought since. The title has now traded hands twice, and the Irishman has also scored two impressive wins over Muhammad and fellow top-ranked Carlos Prates.
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Ian Machado Garry believes he has overtaken Shavkat Rakhmonov for UFC title fight
As a very divisive figure within the UFC, Ian Machado Garry’s calls for a fight with Islam Makhachev have come under far more scrutiny than others in his division. One key query often raised is that if he gets a shot, why wouldn’t Shavkat Rakhmonov, who defeated him last yr?
“I don’t consider there’s an even bigger fight or anyone who’s more deserving of the title shot right away,” Garry told Ariel Helwani on his Uncrowned show tonight. When Helwani hit back with the suggestion of Rakhmonov returning in January, Garry replied “I don’t consider a word of that.”
“Also, the game is moving fast. This man has to get back in there soon. So once you’ve got someone like me who had a really tough and shut fight with that man where he won the chance to fight for the title.
“Because of the fight with me, he has been out injured and has not been in a position to be lively whilst I’ve ranked up a win against the present number five on the earth and the primary on the earth in Belal Muhammad.
“So with all due respect to Shavkat, and I even have nothing but respect for him, let’s speak about him when he’s actually back. Because he’s not right away, and in my mind he’s just trying to take care of relevance by showing up at these fights and being in the image and saying he’s going to be back.
“Well he’s not back, I’m here and I’m ready. And the most effective ability availability. I bust up that knee so bad that night that he’s had two surgeries on it since then. Considered one of them failed, and this one? Let’s see, it’s still recent.