Irish welterweight Ian Machado Garry is clearly a fighter who plans ahead. Following a dominant victory over Carlos Prates in the co-main event at UFC Kansas City, the 27-year-old rising star was officially named the backup fighter for the upcoming UFC 315 welterweight championship clash between champion Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena. With this designation secured, Garry is confident that his opportunity to compete for UFC gold is fast approaching, regardless of whether he steps into the cage in Montreal on May 10.
In fact, Garry has already meticulously outlined a precise three-fight sequence that includes not only winning the welterweight championship but also his initial title defense and a highly anticipated rematch.
Speaking openly at the UFC Kansas City post-fight press conference, Garry shared his vision. “You guys know I like plans, right?” he posed to reporters. “You guys know I have visions in my mind. Well let me tell you what’s next. I’m going to fight the winner [at UFC 315], I believe it’s Belal and that’s nothing against Jack, I just believe stylistically Belal has what it takes to get this fight done and quite convincingly. So I’m going to fight Belal next. I’m going to beat Belal. Belal has said it many, many times, I am the toughest opponent in the division for him.”
Garry`s ambitious plan doesn`t conclude with simply winning the belt. He then aims for a blockbuster first title defense against a legendary opponent. “Then when Belal doesn’t have the belt,” Garry continued, “there’s a certain pound-for-pound No. 1 who wants to come up and his name is Islam Makhachev. I have nothing but love and respect for that man, his style, it would be an honor to share the octagon with him. I would love to go out there and prove against him in my first title defense that I’m the pound-for-pound No. 1.”
These aspirations are undoubtedly bold, but Garry`s strategic mapping of his immediate future culminates in a highly personal mission: avenging the sole defeat on his professional record. That loss occurred last December when Garry accepted a short-notice bout against fellow undefeated contender Shavkat Rakhmonov. Despite battling hard and nearly securing a late finish in the fifth round, Garry ultimately dropped a decision.
Garry candidly admitted that the defeat still resonates with him, serving as a strong motivator for a future encounter. He laid out the desired sequence clearly: “I beat [Islam Makhachev], I take that status [as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter]. I win my first title defense and then Shavkat gets the rematch,” Garry declared. His goal for the rematch is not just a win, but a dominant performance. “I’m going to go out there and I am going to dismantle that man and prove that he never won that fight. That’s my next three fight plan. That’s how I see that going and I don’t want it any other way.”
However, before these grand plans can unfold, Garry`s immediate focus is on his role at UFC 315. He is scheduled to fly to Montreal in two weeks and make weight as the official backup fighter for the main event. While acknowledging that stepping in to compete remains unlikely, Garry will be closely observing the title fight, expecting the incumbent champion, Belal Muhammad, to emerge victorious.
Detailing his prediction for the Muhammad vs. Della Maddalena matchup, Garry explained, “I do think Belal has the advantage… I just feel like we’ve seen Jack get outclassed by people who aren’t as good as what Belal does in the same style. Belal the very best at that pressure cooker style. He doesn’t hit the hardest but he does not stop coming forward and he mixes in his wrestling and he makes it awkward. I really do think that’s a stylistically terrible matchup for Jack. I think we see Belal get the finish in the fourth or fifth round.”
Despite expressing respect for Jack Della Maddalena as a potential opponent, Garry openly stated that facing Belal Muhammad as the reigning champion would hold greater significance for his career narrative. Muhammad`s impressive 11-fight unbeaten streak has firmly established him as the top fighter in the welterweight division, making him the ideal target for Garry`s title aspirations.
“[I’d rather fight] Belal,” Garry asserted, clarifying that his preference stems from Muhammad`s divisional accomplishments rather than stylistic considerations. “He is the champion. He has beaten former champions. He’s on a however many fight win streak. I feel like Jack has not done the same workload and I don’t want any question marks on my career. I’ve told you this. So I want to beat the best guys in the world and Jack is up there on that level but I just think Belal has done more to warrant that status.”
