TLDR
- Ian Machado Garry faces Belal Muhammad in UFC Qatar on Saturday in a potential number one contender bout for the welterweight title
- The winner could face new champion Islam Makhachev, who defeated Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 last week
- Muhammad is returning from his first loss in over six years after losing the welterweight title to Makhachev in May
- Carlos Prates and Michael Morales both scored impressive knockout wins at UFC 322, elevating their status in the division
- Machado Garry has a 33% finish rate in UFC compared to higher rates from other top contenders like Prates and Morales
Ian Machado Garry takes on Belal Muhammad in the co-main event at UFC Qatar on Saturday. The bout at ABHA Arena in Doha could determine the next challenger for welterweight champion Islam Makhachev.
Machado Garry, ranked sixth in the division, believes a victory will make everyone else “irrelevant.” The 28-year-old Irishman faces second-ranked Muhammad, who is returning for the first time since losing his welterweight title.
“This week, when I knock out Belal Muhammad, I make every other person in the welterweight division irrelevant,” Machado Garry said. “I am going to cement myself as the number one contender.”
Muhammad, 37, lost his championship to Makhachev in May. That defeat marked his first loss in over six years. He had previously put together an 11-fight unbeaten streak before claiming the welterweight title.
The former champion is motivated to return to the win column. “I hate losing,” Muhammad explained. “For me, I’m chasing excellence—to be the best fighter, the most complete MMA fighter in the world.”
Recent Welterweight Performances Raise Stakes
The fight comes one week after UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden featured several welterweight matchups. Makhachev dominated Jack Della Maddalena to win the belt in the main event.
Brazil’s Carlos Prates knocked out former champion Leon Edwards in the second round. Ecuador’s Michael Morales stopped Sean Brady in the first round with an equally impressive performance.
Both victories moved their winners up in the rankings. Prates now sits at fifth while Morales climbed to third. Their knockout wins have put pressure on Machado Garry to deliver a statement performance.
“Obviously, huge performances from Michael Morales and Prates,” Muhammad said. “It hyped me up to want to outperform them. There’s a tier right now of who did the best, and I think Morales is at the top right now, so I’ve got to out-shine him.”
Finish Rates Factor into Title Picture
Fighters who finish opponents often get prioritized for title shots. The UFC values exciting fights that generate more viewers and revenue.
Prates has a 100% finish rate in the UFC. Kazakhstan’s Shavkat Rakhmonov, currently injured, has an 86% finish rate. Morales holds a 71% finish rate with an unbeaten 19-fight record.
Machado Garry’s 33% finish rate in the UFC is lower than his top competitors. He acknowledges he needs to make a strong impression with matchmakers.
“My entire goal this weekend is to go out there and leave it undoubted, and unquestionable and undeniable that Ian Machado Garry is the best welterweight walking the planet right now,” he said.
Muhammad has three stoppage wins in his UFC career. His last two finishes came in Abu Dhabi against Takashi Sato at UFC 242 and Brady at UFC 280.
The American feels he needs to finish Machado Garry to rise above recent performances. “If I were able to wear running shoes, I would wear running shoes to catch him,” Muhammad said. “He runs a lot, so for me, it’s just cutting him off, finding him, and not letting him off the hook.”
Champion Eyes Usman Fight
After his victory over Della Maddalena, Makhachev called for a title fight with former champion Kamaru Usman. The 38-year-old Nigerian is ranked eighth in the welterweight division.
Machado Garry argues the division has moved past Usman. He believes Makhachev should target younger fighters instead. “If I were Islam I’d want to fight Usman too, because it’s an easy fight, an easy pay cheque and a first title defence,” he said.
Muhammad has different concerns about his path back to the title. Rakhmonov defeated Machado Garry last December in a clash of unbeaten contenders. The Kazakhstan fighter was originally scheduled to face Muhammad for the belt at UFC 310 before a bone infection forced the champion out.
“Prates had a huge performance, huge knockout; he lost to Ian, though,” Muhammad noted. “Shavkat had a close fight with Ian, so I go out there, I finish Ian, I put a stamp on it, and show the world who I am.”
Muhammad welcomes the trash talk from his opponent. “I’m from Chicago—I’ve had trash talk my whole life; I like it, I work better with it,” he said. “You want to shut him up, right? Especially with his stupid accent, his stupid voice.”
The UFC Qatar card also features the debuts of two teammates of British lightweight Paddy Pimblett. Liverpool’s Luke Riley fights Austria’s Bogdan Grad at featherweight. Fellow Liverpudlian Shem Rock faces Tajikistan’s Nurullo Aliev at lightweight.
