There were a few other results at UFC Qatar with significant implications for their respective UFC divisions, most notably the co-main event that saw Machado Garry take a unanimous decision over former welterweight titleholder Belal Muhammad<\/a>. <\/p>\n Is Ian Machado Garry Next For Islam Makhachev?<\/p>\n Entering UFC Qatar as the welterweight division\u2019s #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<\/a>. <\/p>\n READ MORE: Gable Steveson puts UFC on notice with 24-second KO in second MMA fight<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe Future\u201d 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. <\/p>\n Ian Machado Garry (red gloves) prepares to fight Carlos Prates (not pictured) during UFC Fight Night at T-Mobile Center. | William Purnell-Imagn Images<\/p>\n 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\u2019t competed since the Irishman took him to the judges\u2019 scorecards for the first time at UFC 310 nearly a year ago. <\/p>\n Kyoji Horiguchi Returns To UFC Rankings, Waldo Cortes-Acosta Cracks Top 5<\/p>\n UFC Qatar also featured the highly-anticipated return of former flyweight title challenger Kyoji Horiguchi<\/a>, who submitted Tagir Ulanbekov in his first Octagon appearance since 2016. <\/p>\n READ MORE: Decorated ex-MMA champion reportedly set to debut on final UFC card of the year<\/a><\/p>\n Following an incredibly successful post-UFC run that saw him win titles with both RIZIN and Bellator MMA, Horiguchi returns to the UFC flyweight rankings at #8. Ulanbekov fell one place to #12, while Asu Almabayev also moved up to #7 at 125 lbs. after UFC Qatar with a win over Alex Perez and sent Perez down four spots to #11. <\/p>\n Kyoji Horiguchi celebrates after his win over Darrion Caldwell (not pictured) during Bellator 222 at Madison Square Garden. | Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images<\/p>\n The other notable bout between ranked fighters at UFC Qatar was a heavyweight matchup between Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Shamil Gaziev, which saw \u201cSalsa\u201d boy step in on extremely short notice to score his second knockout of the month<\/a> and move up one spot to #5 in the heavyweight rankings. <\/p>\n More MMA Knockout News<\/p>\n \u2022 UFC Hall of Famer Clay Guida previews RAF debut, reflects on 22-year MMA career<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 UFC Qatar fighter flattens opponent with sensational one-shot knockout<\/a> <\/p>\n \u2022 Chad Mendes sends words of wisdom to Michael Chandler for Conor McGregor UFC fight<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 UFC newcomer runs through opponent for record-setting finish at UFC Qatar<\/a><\/p>\n Stick with MMAKnockout<\/a> for more FREE coverage of the UFC and MMA.<\/p>\n Follow MMAKnockout on Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Ian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/01kay4a4wvya8t8x3qxm.jpg\" "\\"Ian")
<\/p>\n![\"Kyoji](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/01kay4bq4wwdhrafkt55.jpg\" "\\"Kyoji")
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