The last two UFC events have showcased the top of the fight promotion’s welterweight division, and the landscape dramatically changed.
The welterweight belt changed hands at UFC 322 on Nov. 15 with former lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev moving up to the 170-pound weight class and becoming a two-division UFC champion by dominating Jack Della Maddalena.
Second ranked (at the time) Sean Brady was defeated by No. 8 Michael Morales on the UFC 322 main card, Former champion and No. 4 ranked Leon Edwards was knocked out by No. 9 ranked Carlos Prates at the same event.
At UFC Qatar, former champion and No. 2 ranked Belal Muhammad lost to No. 6 ranked Ian Machado Garry. So many contenders losing has sparked debate about who should face Makhachev next. Former middleweight champion Michael Bisping believes Machado Garry should get the title shot.
“He looked smooth. He stopped every single takedown. He’s polarizing. He talks a lot of crap. He does. And you know what, I’ve grown to really like this guy because he backs it up in the octagon,” Bisping said on his YouTube channel.
“He talks a lot of trash, but he backs it up, and he dances around the octagon. He’s got beautiful footwork. He’s got good power. He’s got excellent striking. Takedown defense was perfect,” continued Bisping.
Garry’s only career loss came in December 2024 at UFC 310 to the current No. 4 ranked Shavkat Rakhmonov. He’s put together back-to-back wins since the defeat including last weekend’s win over the former champion Muhammad.
Related: Belal Muhammad releases statement following UFC Qatar loss to Ian Machado Garry
“There’s kind of like a bit of a mini tournament at welterweight. Who’s going to make the biggest splash? Well, he’s already beaten Carlos Prates. He’s already beaten him even though he knocked out Leon Edwards,” Bisping said.
“Michael Morales beat Sean Brady in spectacular fashion, and he’s 19-0, and he’s undefeated, but I think Ian Garry beating a former champion in Belal Muhammad and with the promo he did and the way he hypes it up… The promo on the mic, the way he called out Islam was phenomenal,” Bisping continued.
“I think Ian Garry should be next. And there’s not many of people that will be calling out Islam Makhachev because he’s a terrible matchup for a lot of people, but Ian Garry’s takedown defense (against Muhammad) was phenomenal.”
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