Apr 26, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, UNITED STATES; Ian Machado Garry (red gloves) prepares to fight Carlos Prates (not pictured) during UFC Fight Night at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images

mma

‘I Will Smoke Jack Della Maddalena’ – Ian Garry Calls Shot At UFC Welterweight Gold, Lays Out Interesting Match-Ups

an Garry congratulates Jack Della Maddalena for winning the title at UFC 315, wants to fight him next!

The recent upset at UFC 315 has now thrown the welterweight division into a fascinating new chapter, with fresh faces vying for gold and veteran contenders repositioning themselves. And rising Irish star Ian Machado Garry isn’t shy about his championship aspirations.

After Jack Della Maddalena’s surprising title win over Belal Muhammad, Garry has made it clear he believes he is ready for the spotlight. The undefeated prospect has been steadily climbing the rankings, showcasing his striking prowess and growing ground game with each outing. His confidence mirrors that of another famous Irish fighter who once took the UFC by storm, though Garry has repeatedly sought to forge his own unique legacy.

Also Read: Islam Makhachev vs Jack Della Maddalena – What Can Fans Expect From This High Level Matchup?

Ian Garry Unimpressed With Jack Della Maddalena’s Performance

Despite Della Maddalena’s dominant win to claim UFC gold, Garry wasn’t blown away by what he saw. Garry’s critique focused on technical aspects of Della Maddalena’s approach. While many praised the new champion for neutralizing Muhammad’s wrestling and controlling the striking exchanges, Garry sees flaws he believes he could exploit.

“You have a new champion in Jack Della Maddalena. He had a great performance, but sloppy. The rumor is that Islam Makhachev is moving up to 170. If he does, then all of us welterweights have to take a step back and give the man respect he deserves. But if negotiations don’t go so well, then you have a tall, blonde Irishman who’s ready to take over the UFC and get that belt and I will smoke Jack Della Maddalena. I’ll box the ears off him.”

👀Ian Machado Garry reacts on Islam Makhachev moving up to welterweight:

"All of us welterweights have to step back and give the man respect he deserves.

But if negotiations don’t go so well, then you’ve got a tall, blonde Irishman who’s ready to take over the UFC…

And I will… pic.twitter.com/qf9PJH1AFX
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) May 11, 2025

The callout comes at an interesting time, as rumors swirl about lightweight king Islam Makhachev potentially moving up to challenge for the welterweight title, which could put contenders like Garry in a holding pattern.

Ian Garry Plays The Matchmaker For The Welterweight Division

Never one to simply complain about the landscape, Ian Garry took it upon himself to map out what he sees as logical next steps for the welterweight division. His matchmaking suggestions show he is paying close attention to the stylistic puzzles throughout the weight class.

“I want to see Carlos prates take on Geoff Neal: two heavy hitters, two big southpaws. That’s a fight I’m interested in to see. Then Leon Edwards – he’s always moaning and complaining: ‘I don’t want to fight any wrestlers. I want to fight strikers.’ Then let’s give him the most awkward striker in the entire UFC in Michael ‘Venom’ Page. That’s a fight I’d like to watch.”

Garry’s commentary and matchmaking ideas come at a pivotal moment for the welterweight division. With a new champion crowned and potential cross-divisional superfights looming, the next six months could reshape the entire landscape at 170 pounds. Whether Garry gets his wish for a title shot or must take another fight in the meantime remains to be seen.

(Image Credit: William Purnell – Imagn Images)

Ian Garry

Islam Makhachev

Jack Della Maddalena

UFC 315

Zaid Quraishi

mma

I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!