Welterweight Quasar Scratching Head Over Champion’s Instagram Post
Ian Machado Garry (17-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC), the No. 2 contender in the welterweight division, is still waiting to make his 2026 UFC debut. It’s been slightly over four months since he last set foot inside the fabled Octagon. During UFC Qatar on Nov. 2...
Ian Machado Garry (17-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC), the No. 2 contender in the welterweight division, is still waiting to make his 2026 UFC debut. It’s been slightly over four months since he last set foot inside the fabled Octagon.
During UFC Qatar on Nov. 22, he scored a unanimous decision victory over Belal Muhammad (24-5, 1 NC MMA, 15-5, 1 NC UFC) after three rounds of action. While Muhammad has his next UFC fight on the books for June 6 versus Gabriel Bonfim inside the Meta Apex, Ian Machado Garry remains on the bench.
Garry has one opponent in mind for his return to competition, whenever it happens to be. He remains steadfast in hopes of fighting the incumbent UFC Welterweight Champion, Islam Makhachev (28-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC.)
Islam Makhachev last set foot inside the cage a week before Ian Machado Garry fought last November. Madison Square Garden in New York City served as the setting for UFC 322. That evening, Makhachev took the belt via unanimous decision against Jack Della Maddalena (18-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) after 25 minutes.
In the aftermath of UFC 322 late last fall, Islam Makhachev was one of the names believed to be attached to the UFC Freedom 250 card on The White House grounds in Washington, DC. Earlier this month at the Zuffa Boxing 04 post-fight press conference, however, UFC CEO Dana White put those rumors to rest, mentioning that Makhachev would continue to be out because of a hand injury.
“He’s got some hand issues, I know that,” White told the assembled press backstage at Meta Apex that Sunday night. “I don’t know how serious the hand issues are or how long that will keep him out, but, yeah, he’s injured.”
Plot Thickens With Instagram Story
Despite the hand injury keeping Islam Makhachev out of action for the foreseeable future, the validity of the welterweight champion’s medical issues have suddenly been thrown into question. Over the weekend, Makhachev took to Instagram, posting a since-expired story of him working out with a punching bag.
An incensed Ian Machado Garry replied to the story with a poll.
“Hand injury or time-wasting?,” Ian Machado Garry pondered. Garry is more than eager to fight Makhachev when the time comes, but he’ll have to play the waiting game a little bit longer.
Welterweight Championship Picture Still in Flux Months After Makhachev’s Win
Islam Makhachev’s medical issues have kept the UFC from announcing a date, venue, or opponent for his first defense as UFC Welterweight Champion. It’s been nearly four and a half months since Makhachev initially won the championship.
As recently as this past Saturday night at the UFC London post-fight press conference, Dana White said there’s no clear-cut adversary for Makhachev’s next contest.
“As soon as he’s ready, we’ll figure out what’s next for him,” the UFC CEO mentioned to the media this past weekend.
Final Thoughts: Just Give Ian Machado Garry Fight vs. Makhachev
Ian Machado Garry has been adamant all along that he wants a fight for the title against Islam Makhachev more than anything in the world. At this time, the UFC has yet to reveal any concrete plans for upcoming cards in the second half of this year.
Given that he was shown on Instagram using the heavy bag, he’s recovered enough to start working out. Realistically speaking, if Makhachev’s path to recovery continues without any significant challenges, a late summer defense of the title, if not an early fall title fight, looks pretty possible.
Whether Islam Makhachev’s next fight is one against Ian Machado Garry remains to be seen, but the UFC matchmaking department can’t afford to fumble the snap on this bout. If Garry doesn’t get what he wants, it could result in an ugly situation.
