TLDR
- Ian Machado Garry and Khamzat Chimaev got into a physical altercation backstage at UFC Qatar after Garry’s win over Belal Muhammad
- The confrontation started during what appeared to be a friendly exchange before security intervened and Chimaev pushed Garry
- Chimaev posted a deleted tweet threatening Garry, saying “White boy, you will not survive one minute in my world”
- Darren Till criticized Garry’s behavior, calling him “the fakest human on Earth” and defending his friend Chimaev
- Garry accused Chimaev of having “anger management issues” and said the push showed “little dā energy”
A backstage confrontation between Ian Machado Garry and UFC Middleweight Champion Khamzat Chimaev has created controversy following UFC Qatar. The incident took place after Garry’s unanimous decision victory over former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in the co-main event.
Garry encountered Chimaev backstage while congratulating Arman Tsarukyan on his win over Dan Hooker. Chimaev was part of Tsarukyan’s corner team for the fight.
What started as a seemingly friendly interaction quickly turned tense. Security stepped in between the fighters, which appeared to escalate the situation.
Chimaev then pushed Garry. The confrontation continued at the post-fight press conference where both fighters addressed the incident.
Chimaev posted a message on social media directed at Garry. He wrote “White boy, you will not survive one minute in my world” before deleting the tweet.
At Tsarukyan’s press conference, Chimaev explained his side of the story. He claimed Garry slapped his back inappropriately during their interaction.
“Don’t punch somebody from behind,” Chimaev said. “He’s like slapping my back.”
Chimaev accused Garry of trying to create hype. He compared Garry’s behavior to trying to copy Conor McGregor.
“He came there to make some hype,” Chimaev stated. “You know that guy is trying to be Conor, but he’s never gonna be Conor.”
Garry Responds to Chimaev
Garry addressed the incident at his own press conference. He criticized Chimaev’s behavior as unnecessary for a champion.
“You’re the champion of the world,” Garry said. “No one needs to see you be tough.”
Garry accused Chimaev of having anger management problems. He called the push an example of trying too hard to appear tough.
Former UFC welterweight contender Darren Till weighed in on the situation. Till posted a lengthy statement on social media defending Chimaev and criticizing Garry.
“Ian Garry is such a good fighter man but by god is he possibly the fakest human on Earth,” Till wrote. “Fake beyond all beliefs.”
Till Defends Chimaev
Till explained that he tried to like Garry but found it impossible. He called the entire backstage interaction fake from Garry’s side.
“That whole interaction was fake,” Till stated. “And when Ian turned you could see he was scared.”
Till referenced his close friendship with Chimaev. He said they were best friends because they share similar attitudes about confrontation.
Till also criticized Garry for comments about Leon Edwards. Edwards recently suffered his third consecutive loss when Carlos Prates knocked him out at UFC 322.
Garry previously trained at the same gym as Edwards but was asked to leave. Edwards later said Garry “just didn’t fit into the gym” due to a culture clash.
“Garry got kicked out of that gym as he did of others,” Till wrote. He called Garry a good fighter but criticized his personality.
Garry currently trains at Chute Boxe in Brazil. He works alongside former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira.
Chimaev holds the UFC Middleweight Championship. Garry competes at welterweight and is seeking a title shot against Islam Makhachev in 2026.
