Jun 28, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Ian Machado Garry during weigh ins for UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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Ian Garry Backs Islam Makhachev’s Double-Champ Dream While Eyeing A Showdown Of His Own!

Ian Garry reveals his deep admiration for Islam Makhachev!

Jun 28, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Ian Machado Garry during weigh ins for UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Throughout the history of the UFC, fans have seen fighters like Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, and Amanda Nunes chase glory across multiple weight classes. The allure of becoming a “double champ” has driven many elite fighters to test their skills beyond their comfort zones. It’s a risky gambit that few have successfully pulled off, but those who do cement their legacy in the sport’s history books.

Now the whispers are growing louder about UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev potentially making the leap to welterweight. The dominant Dagestani fighter has been nearly untouchable at 155 pounds since claiming the title. His technical wrestling, improved striking, and calm demeanor have made him one of the most formidable champions in recent memory. With Makhachev reportedly considering a move up to challenge for a second belt, the welterweight division is buzzing with speculation. And one rising contender in particular has some surprising thoughts on the matter, the outspoken Irishman Ian Machado Garry.

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Ian Garry Shows Respect To Islam Makhachev

Ian Machado Garry has publicly stated that he would fully support Makhachev getting an immediate title shot at welterweight.

“He can jump the queue if he wants to, he’s Islam Makhachev, he’s the pound-for-pound number one. You’ve gotta give respect when respect is due. And if that man turns up and says ‘I want to be next’, I think everyone in the welterweight division gives the ‘OK’. And I think if you try to argue that, you don’t have respect for the greatest in the world,” Garry told Shakiel Mahjouri in a recent interview.

👊Ian Garry has all praise for the pound-for-pound king Islam Makhachev:

"He can jump the queue if he wants, he's Islam Makhachev. If that man turns up and says I wanna be next, everyone in the welterweight would be okay with that.

He's an absolute disaster for everyone in the… pic.twitter.com/PloxNlsbGc
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) April 23, 2025

The welterweight contender didn’t stop there, suggesting that the entire division should welcome the challenge. This stance might surprise fans who have come to know Garry for his confident, sometimes brash persona. The Irish fighter isn’t typically one to back down from any challenge or suggest another fighter deserves special treatment. But here he is, practically rolling out the red carpet for Makhachev’s potential divisional invasion. It’s a mature perspective from the rising star who seems to recognize that the sport benefits when the best face the best, regardless of how that impacts his own path to the title.

Ian Garry Eyes His Own Super Fight

While Garry is happy to let Makhachev pursue championship glory at welterweight, he is not looking to simply step aside completely. In fact, the former Cage Warriors champion has his sights set on eventually testing himself against the lightweight king.

“I have nothing but love and respect as a fighter and a fight fan for Islam Makhachev. I think he is phenomenal. If he wants to come up and i have the belt, it would be an absolute honor to share the octagon with him…I believe both me and Islam show the new evolution of MMA fighters. You can’t be good in one area, you have to be great in every area,” said Garry at the UFC Kansas City media day.

Despite acknowledging the immense challenge Makhachev would present, Garry isn’t backing down. This mindset speaks volumes about Garry’s confidence and ambition. Even after suffering his first professional loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov in December, his self-belief remains unshaken. Before any potential showdown with Makhachev can materialize, however, Garry must focus on the task at hand, his upcoming main event against Carlos Prates at UFC Kansas City. A win there would put him back on track toward contendership, and perhaps one day, into the cage with the man he clearly respects but isn’t afraid to challenge.

(Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – Imagn Images)

Ian Garry

Islam Makhachev

Zaid Quraishi

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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!