Is Ian Machado Garry Next For Islam Makhachev?

[BreakersDojo]

Entering UFC Qatar as the welterweight division’s #6-ranked contender, Machado Garry has now climbed to #2 in the latest rankings update and only sits behind the recently-dethroned Jack Della Maddalena.
“The Future” was favored to secure his second win in a row over Muhammad at UFC Qatar, but there was also an expectation that the 28-year-old would need to put on an especially impressive performance to secure a title shot after Michael Morales and Carlos Prates both scored highlight-reel knockouts on the main card of UFC 322.
Morales and Prates now sit at #4 and #6 in the welterweight rankings following UFC Qatar. Machado Garry also notably moved one spot ahead of his former opponent Shavkat Rakhmonov, who hasn’t competed since the Irishman took him to the judges’ scorecards for the first time at UFC 310 nearly a year ago.

I think that Michael Morales is that next big in that 170 pound division

 

[JoeRowe]

How does a question that YOU asked qualify as a rumor?

Should be Islam/Shavkat with Garry/Morales for #1 contender on the same card in case Shavkat pulls out.

 

[ArtardFiesta]

i say so.

just give garry the title fight now and let the ww killers fight each other.

I don't want garry in the contention mix because he will just point fight to win and we lose out on more exciting fights. give him his ts now and we can put his story to rest for a bit.

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

Would definitely be an interesting fight, plus the highest ranked contender Islam has ever defended against!

 

[BreakersDojo]

I think any of them with there height will be a real problems for Islam

 

[humdizzle]

I could see the ufc giving him the fight.

but i wouldn't be mad if he was skipped over and forced to fight morales for #1 contender. While islam fights shakvat.

 

[Tweak896]

Honestly just looking at recent fights, Morales looks the best of all contenders, Prates probably looks second best. Performance wise.
Then Garry has been the most active, deserves it the most, but I hate how boring he is by decision.
Shavkat already earned a shot, but with how bad his injury looked, he needs like an Arman tune up fight.
Usman stupidly will sell the most, and is running out of time, UFC probably is feening for this to give Islam a legend before they can't sell the fight.

Brady/Leon/Buckley/Belal could come back for title shot but atleast need 1 or 2 more.

WW needs some of these guys fighting, the title will be lucky to show up 2x in 2026. Who knows what sort of shit like Topuria coming or Usman getting shoehorned could come, hell maybe Khamzat announces a drop back down.

 

[oski]

 

[Hymen Crusher]

Probably if not shav. I mean he is boring but I do think his length will make it interesting and he is really good at making the fight boring and close. What i do know is that is one boring ass fight

 

[TriangleMonkey]

Islam was not impressed by his performance so sure why not

He’s not gonna KO Islam, just run in circles and try and point-fight

But that’s kinda hard to do when you’re on bottom every round trying not to get choked out

 

[Kung Fu Kowboy]

Next... Nah. It's either Usman in March or Topuria at the White House...

 

[BreakersDojo]

I dont think usman

 

[svmr_db]

Would definitely be an interesting fight, plus the highest ranked contender Islam has ever defended against!

To be fair he had title defenses booked vs Tsarukyan & Oliveira who were both #1 at the time, they just never made it to the cage.

 

[b00tysweat]

To be fair he had title defenses booked vs Tsarukyan & Oliveira who were both #1 at the time, they just never made it to the cage.

plus he has wins over both of those men already