{"id":466525,"date":"2026-02-08T13:50:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T13:50:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/466525\/"},"modified":"2026-02-08T13:50:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T13:50:09","slug":"ian-machado-garry-hands-ufc-matchmakers-a-gift-names-3-welterweight-fights-he-wants-next","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/466525\/","title":{"rendered":"Ian Machado Garry Hands UFC Matchmakers A Gift, Names 3 Welterweight Fights He Wants Next"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ian Machado Garry has given his opinion on who should fight whom next in the UFC welterweight division. Garry recently moved up to the No. 2 spot on the 170-pound list after his former opponent, Shavkat Rakhmonov, was removed<\/a> from the rankings.<\/p>\n

\u2018The Future,\u2019 who suffered his lone MMA loss in 2024 to \u2018Nomad,\u2019 bounced back in 2025 and won on short notice against Carlos Prates. After that, he beat Belal Muhammad<\/a> at UFC Qatar. Garry has now set his sights on the welterweight champion and pound-for-pound king, Islam Makhachev<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Other than the Irishman, Kamaru Usman<\/a>, Michael Morales, and Carlos Prates have also shown interest in fighting for the title next.<\/p>\n

Makhachev, on the other hand, is interested in fighting \u2018The Nigerian Nightmare,\u2019 as he believes the latter to be his hardest challenge in this new weight class.<\/p>\n

Ian Machado Garry, however, has more intriguing matchups in mind.<\/p>\n

Ian Machado Garry Proposes Three Potential Matchups to Get the UFC Welterweight Division Rolling<\/p>\n

In a recent Instagram video, Ian Machado Garry suggested three potential matchups in the UFC welterweight division with proper reasoning, keeping himself at the top of the title picture. He said:<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody has an opinion on who should fight who next in the welterweight division. Here\u2019s mine.\u201d<\/p>\n

1) Carlos Prates vs. Michael Morales<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cCarlos Prates vs. Michael Morales because they are two power heavy hitters, and I want to see who comes out on top. I doubt Morales would take it because the truth is Carlos Prates hits harder.\u201d<\/p>\n

2) Jack Della Maddalena vs. Kamaru Usman<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Irishman added:<\/p>\n

\u201cI kind of want to see Carlos [Prates] and JDM too, but I am going to watch Jack Della Maddalena vs. Kamaru Usman. I want to see if Jack can stop the takedown. Has he learned? Can he get better? Can he evolve, and [does] Kamaru still have the gear to beat a young prospect?\u201d<\/p>\n

3) Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Machado Garry<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Finally, announcing with confidence that he is Islam Makhachev\u2019s next opponent<\/a>, Garry added:<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd finally, the world title fight at welterweight. I want to see the champion, Islam Makhachev, defend his belt against the number one contender in the world, Ian Machado Garry. I am next.\u201d<\/p>\n

Check out Ian Machado Garry\u2019s comments below:<\/p>\n