Ian Machado Garry is itching to get back to another title shot, and he knows just the opponent that can get him there.
Speaking to Eze Talks Sports, Garry set his sights on undefeated welterweight contender Michael Morales. Garry is coming off of a title fight loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 330, while Morales awaits his first championship opportunity and his next booking. In Garry’s eyes, it’s only logical they match up.
“For me, there’s only one fight that makes sense right now and that’s Michael Morales,” Garry said. “When I beat him, I’m the only one who deserves a title shot, even though me and Islam have just fought.
“Whether Islam wins, whether Carlos Prates wins the next fight, it’s two massive rematches, so I go out there and I finish Michael Morales, get my hand raised, it’s undeniable that I’m right back up there for the title shot. So that’s what I think needs to be next.”
Garry alluded to a potential matchup between Makhachev and Prates, the latter of whom Garry defeated in the main event of UFC Kansas City. Prates rebounded with three straight knockout victories, including wins over former UFC champions Jack Della Maddalena and Leon Edwards, and looks to be in prime position to face Makhachev when the pound-for-pound king next competes.
Morales was also a candidate to fight Makhachev, but hasn’t fought since a first-round knockout of Sean Brady this past November. That win improved Morales’ record to 19-0, including a 7-0 mark in the UFC. Garry would love to be the one to hand Morales his first loss.
“He’s long, he’s tall, he’s confident, and he should be,” Garry said. “I think it’s a phenomenal fight. Two of the best strikers on the planet, two of the best fighters on the planet going head to head, with the task being fighting the best in the world, going again for that belt. So it’s a tough matchup, it’s a very dangerous matchup.
“A guy who’s got a lot of confidence, a lot of trust in his power, but I’ve fought very, very, very good fighters. I’m afraid of no man walking this planet and I’ll step into the octagon with anyone and beat them.”
Garry has lost just twice in 19 pro bouts – to Makhachev and Shavkat Rakhmonov. Like Morales, Rakhmonov sports an undefeated record, but has been out of action since fighting Garry almost two years ago as he’s dealt with injuries.
The Makhachev defeat drew mixed reviews for Garry, who managed to snag a 48-47 score on one judge’s card despite losing a clear unanimous decision. UFC CEO Dana White lambasted Garry for hugging Makhachev during the fight.
Having had a chance to review the fight, Garry saw it as a close contest, and looks forward to sharing the cage with Makhachev again.
“I scored the fight 3-2 to him,” Garry said. “I think it was 2-2 going into the final round and he managed to finish the round on my back, therefore he has to win the fight, but I was more dangerous on the feet, I was able to stop his grappling. I felt like I did everything well, and where I did everything well, so did he.
“It was such a high-level fight, such an elite-level fight, but at the end of the day, he did what he needed to do to win the fight in the last moment in the last round. I can only go from this moment on, regroup, gather myself, gather my team, look at what we did correctly, and just continue to go. I’m so young in this sport, I have the whole world at my feet. I’ve just got to keep going and keep a positive mindset.”
