Ian Machado Garry just picked up arguably the biggest win of his career in the sport. Still, the headlines are focusing on a different matter involving the rising contender at UFC Qatar.
While ‘The Future’ doesn’t have the following and support from fans and his peers that his early career trajectory expected, it’s hard to deny just how good the welterweight truly is. Competing in one of the toughest divisions in MMA history, the Irishman has grinded his way into title contention, and his recent win over former champion Belal Muhammad will likely do him a lot of favors going forward.
Despite delivering a strong showing on Saturday night, Ian Machado Garry’s performance isn’t what has demanded everybody’s attention. Following his victory, Garry was involved in an incident backstage.
Attempting to congratulate fellow victor on the night, Arman Tsarukyan, who steamrolled Dan Hooker in their lightweight title eliminator clash, Garry stumbled into an altercation.
Things initially looked civil between Ian Machado Garry and UFC champion Khamzat Chimaev, but the situation quickly turned sour, and the fighters had to be separated.
Chimaev pushed the 28-year-old, with fans speculating that a comment may have been lost in translation. Speaking out for the first time since the confrontation, Garry revealed his side of the story.
“I went up to Tsarukyan. I congratulated him,” Garry said. “I went up to Khamzat. I said, ‘Hey, champ. What’s up? When are we going to see you back?’ He goes, ‘I don’t know, brother. Whenever. Smash.’ Alright. Cool, sweet.”
“He slaps me on the back. I’m like, ‘Alright, cool.’ [A] security guard gets in front of us. I’m like, we literally were just cool with each other. He’s not going to fight me.”
Despite the ups and downs in his career, Khamzat Chimaev is still regarded by his peers as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
While his ability inside the octagon cannot be questioned, one thing Chimaev often lacks is self-control outside of the cage. That has been on display several times throughout his time in the spotlight, with the scenes at UFC Qatar being no different.
“Then that childish energy comes out,” Garry continued. “Yeah, f*** you, brother. F*** you. Boom, [he] tries to push me.”
“I just turned around and went, ‘You’re meant to be a champion of this sport. You’re a child. You’re taking away from [Arman Tsarukyan’s] win over here. How about you calm down, slow down, and have a bit of respect for your friend over here rather than trying to steal the headlines.'”
“Do you want the honest truth? It’s little d*** energy. I need to show the world I’m tough,” Garry said, mimicking Chimaev. “You’re the champion of the world. No one needs to see you be tough. You don’t need to have these anger management issues. Just be a man.”
Related: Khamzat Chimaev shoves Ian Machado Garry backstage at UFC Qatar | Video
Ian Machado Garry and Khamzat Chimaev have traded barbs online in the past, but ‘Borz’s presence doesn’t faze the 170 lber.
As he displays with everything he does, Garry believes he’s the best fighter in the world. No matter how good the man standing across from him, the former Cage Warriors welterweight king believes he’s better.
“I’ll get him one day,” Garry vowed. “They’re all going to try to grab hold of my legs. Boring little… I’m not going to get [into it]. Don’t get me started.”
Love him or hate him, Garry has established himself as one of the most plausible next opponents for the newly-crowned champion of the division, Islam Makhachev.
His aforementioned win over the #2-ranked contender at welterweight puts Garry within touching distance of his first UFC title shot.
Listen to Ian Machado Garry’s response to his run-in with Khamzat Chimaev below.
