Ian Machado Garry needs UFC gold on the road in his subsequent struggle.
And the Irishman believes it will finally carve out a path to him turning into the promotion’s greatest star.
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Machado Garry survived a really late scare from Carlos Prates in what was a largely dominant victory in the primary occasion of UFC Kansas Metropolis on Saturday night time.
The win has put the 27-year-old in a great place to struggle for the UFC welterweight strap subsequent after struggling the primary defeat of his profession towards Shavkat Rakhmonov in his final outing.
Belal Muhammad is the present champion at 170 kilos, and Machado Garry is the official backup fighter for the previous’s first defence of the belt at UFC 315 towards Jack Della Maddalena in Might.
Chatting with the media after his win, Machado Garry oozed confidence as he laid out a three-fight plan for his future.
“I’m going to struggle the winner [of UFC 315]. I consider it’s Belal,” Garry mentioned.
“And that’s nothing towards Jack. I simply consider stylistically Belal has what it takes to get this struggle accomplished, and fairly convincingly.
“So I’m going to struggle Belal and beat Belal. Belal has mentioned many occasions that I’m the hardest opponent within the division for him.
“Then, when Belal doesn’t have the belt, there’s a sure pound-for-pound No. 1 who needs to come back up, and his identify is Islam Makhachev.”
Makhachev is the UFC light-weight champion and present No. 1 pound-for-pound (P4P) fighter within the promotion.
He has defended the belt 4 occasions since defeating Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 in 2022, and has beforehand teased a transfer as much as welterweight to contend for two-division championship standing.
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Forward of his win, Machado Garry mentioned Makhachev could be ‘an absolute catastrophe’ at 170lbs, however was adamant that he would relish if given a chance towards the Russian star.
“I’ve nothing however love and respect for that man and his model, and it could be an honour to share the Octagon with him,” he added.
“I’d like to go on the market and show towards him – in my first title defence – that I’m the P4P No. 1.
“I beat him, I take that standing, I win my first title defence, after which Shavkat will get the rematch.
“And I’m going to go on the market and dismantle that man. And show that he by no means gained that struggle, and that’s my subsequent three struggle plan.
“That is how I see it going and I do not need that every other method.”
UFC pound-for-pound rankings
- Islam Makhachev
- Jon Jones
- Ilia Topuria
- Merab Dvalishvili
- Dricus Du Plessis
- Magomed Ankalaev
- Belal Muhammad
- Alex Pereira
- Alexander Volkanovski
- Alexander Pantoja
- Tom Aspinall
- Max Holloway
- Sean O’Malley
- Charles Oliveira
- Arman Tsarukyan
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Machado Garry utilised his lengthy vary and wrestling to safe a unanimous resolution win over Prates at UFC Kansas Metropolis.
He had full management of the struggle heading into the ultimate spherical, till his Brazilian opponent discovered himself on high after reversing a takedown and started touchdown some nasty floor and pound.
Machado Garry was placed on pink alert because the clock ticked on, however Prates didn’t capitalise on his place and subsequently suffered his first UFC defeat as his 11-fight successful streak additionally ended.
“I used to be not harm,” Garry mentioned after the choice victory.
“I used to be acutely aware at each second. I understand how harmful that man is. I’ve nothing however respect for what he and his crew (The Preventing Nerds) do.”
Elsewhere on the cardboard, Mingyang Zhang stopped Anthony Smith within the co-main occasion to finish the previous UFC mild heavyweight title challenger’s profession.
Smith introduced his retirement after the bloody defeat, however asserted his proudness when talking in his post-fight interview
“I am simply gonna be grateful it occurred,” ‘Lionheart’ mentioned. “I admire you guys.”
Smith suffered a unanimous resolution defeat to present heavyweight champion Jon Jones again in March 2019 at UFC 235.