Ian Garry made it clear to the UFC that accepting a fight against Carlos Prates on short notice came with conditions, the main one being that a victory would secure him the next opportunity at the welterweight title. After successfully winning a decision against Prates at UFC Kansas City, Garry is now scheduled to weigh in as the backup for Saturday`s main event featuring Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena. While highly confident the UFC will honor its promise for a title shot, Garry acknowledges one specific scenario where he would have to step aside.
“If Jack does win and Islam [Makhachev] wants to come up, everyone takes a backseat,” Garry stated during the UFC 315 media day on Wednesday. “You are the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world; you deserve that ranking, that status. If you wish to move up and challenge for that belt, then everyone else will defer and allow you to do so, because that is the respect that man has earned.”
UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev has frequently discussed his desire to pursue a second title. However, he has also been vocal about never fighting Belal Muhammad, who is his friend and frequent training partner. Makhachev`s coach, Khabib Nurmagomedov, reinforced this point, emphatically stating they would not seek the welterweight title as long as Muhammad reigns as champion. Naturally, this situation changes entirely if Della Maddalena secures the win on Saturday.
Although Garry concedes he would step aside for Makhachev, considering the specific circumstances required for Islam to move to the 170-pound division, the 27-year-old Irish fighter doesn`t believe this scenario is likely to happen.
“I believe Belal wins this weekend, and when Belal wins this weekend, there isn’t a bigger fight to make than me and Belal, and I want to do it in his own backyard,” Garry said. “I want it in Chicago. I want to sell it out. I want to be the one to do it, and I want to take his belt in his hometown.”
Rumors have circulated regarding the UFC`s potential return to Chicago in the near future, but Muhammad`s availability after his fight against Della Maddalena at UFC 315 remains to be seen. Regardless of his physical state, Garry feels Muhammad would be foolish to miss the chance to fight in his hometown, believing it sets the perfect stage for another welterweight title contest.
“I think for him, it would be idiotic not to want to fight in his hometown and defend his belt on home soil,” Garry commented, adding, “Regardless of who is standing in front of him.”
As much as he aims to take the championship from him, Garry expressed significant admiration for Muhammad and the long path he took to finally become champion. He stated there is no real animosity between them, and Garry promised that, if the UFC books the fight, he would take on the burden of promoting it, relieving pressure from Muhammad.
“Belal is the champion of the world, and I think from everything I’ve seen of him, obviously I don’t know the guy deeply personally, but he seems to be a good human,” Garry said. “He seems focused and isn’t involved in pointless, stupid things. I think for him, it would be a smart move to want to fight me next. Because I am going to do all the heavy lifting when it comes to selling the card. I am going to do all the heavy lifting when it comes to putting on a show. I’ll create all the noise. All he has to do is show up so I can win the belt.”
