TLDR
- Islam Makhachev’s manager Ali Abdelaziz ruled out Ian Garry as the next challenger for the welterweight title
- Garry holds the #2 ranking at welterweight and recently defeated former champion Belal Muhammad
- Abdelaziz stated the UFC is working on “one of the biggest fights” they can make for Makhachev
- Former champion Kamaru Usman has emerged as the leading candidate after calling out Makhachev
- Makhachev called Usman the “biggest name in welterweight” and his “hardest fight” at 170 pounds
Sources: Essentially Sports | MMASucka | Agent MMA
Islam Makhachev’s manager Ali Abdelaziz announced on March 2 that Ian Garry will not be the next challenger for the UFC welterweight championship. The manager stated the UFC is working on a “much bigger” fight for the champion.
“This is, I can tell you, the UFC [is] working on a big fight [for] Islam Makhachev and Ian’s name is not involved,” Abdelaziz wrote on social media. “Much bigger. One of the biggest fights in the UFC right now they can make. Stay tuned.”
Garry currently holds the #2 ranking in the welterweight division with a 17-1 record. He recently defeated former champion Belal Muhammad in November and previously earned a decision win against Carlos Prates.
Garry Responds to Being Passed Over
The Irish fighter responded on Instagram after learning he would not get the title shot. “I’m ready… he needs more time,” Garry wrote. “Imagine being the number one pound for pound fighter on the planet and needing MORE time.”
Makhachev became a two-division champion when he defeated Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 on November 15, 2025, at Madison Square Garden. The Dagestani fighter now holds a 28-1 record with 5 knockouts and 13 submissions.
Before moving to welterweight, Makhachev dominated the lightweight division. He defeated Charles Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski, Dustin Poirier, and Renato Moicano during his lightweight title reign before relinquishing that belt in May last year.
Only two potential opponents would qualify as bigger fights than Garry based on Abdelaziz’s comments. One option would be a champion versus champion super fight against current lightweight titleholder Ilia Topuria.
Kamaru Usman Emerges as Leading Candidate
The other possibility involves former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. The Nigerian fighter has been campaigning for a shot at Makhachev since defeating Joaquin Buckley to get back in the win column.
Makhachev himself has expressed interest in facing Usman. The champion called Usman the “biggest name in welterweight” and said he would be “the hardest fight for me.”
Usman dominated the welterweight division from 2019 to 2022 as champion. He successfully defended his title five times against opponents including Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington, and Gilbert Burns.
Even Covington, Usman’s longtime rival, recently endorsed the former champion for the title shot. The two fighters faced each other twice during Usman’s championship reign.
Abdelaziz also manages Usman alongside Makhachev. This connection has fueled speculation that the former champion could be the chosen opponent for Makhachev’s first welterweight title defense.
The UFC has not officially announced who will challenge Makhachev or when the fight will take place. Abdelaziz suggested an answer could come by the end of the week.
Other contenders like Carlos Prates and Michael Morales have also been mentioned as potential challengers. Prates is scheduled to face former champion Jack Della Maddalena on May 2.
Della Maddalena currently holds the #1 ranking in the welterweight division. However, he is already booked for the UFC’s return to Perth later this year.
UFC officials have previously admitted that Garry might be too “boring” to headline fight cards. This could factor into the decision to pursue a different opponent for Makhachev’s first title defense.
