Irish welterweight contender Ian Machado Garry positioned himself for a title shot with a hard-earned unanimous decision victory over number-one contender and former champion Belal Muhammad.
Garry effectively nullified Muhammad’s takedowns at source as he kept the fight on the feet. And with the fight spent standing, Machado Garry’s striking from range proved more effective than Muhammad’s boxing as he ran out the victor on all three scorecards, with the judges scoring the bout 30-27, 30-27, 29-28.
The Final Verdict: Ian Machado Garry states his case, but is it enough?
Machado Garry’s post-fight interview ended with him talking straight down the lens of the camera as he sent a message to newly-crowned welterweight champion Islam Makhachev.
“Listen, I just beat the number-one ranked welterweight on the planet, Belal Muhammad, former champion. There is nobody else above him, other than the world champion, Islam Makhachev.
“Belal couldn’t take me down, so Islam, you try to take me down. I’m telling you now, I’m the best in the world, and you have a duty to defend that belt against the best welterweight on the planet, and you’re looking at him. It’s Ian Machado Garry.
“You come into my division, then you show up wherever you want in the world, and I’ll be there. And I’m taking that throne from you, and I’m ending that continuous streak. You’re done. There is nobody getting in the way of me and my future, and me and my dreams. So, sign the contract, and I will see you soon.”
Takedown defence and solid striking the key as Machado Garry edged Muhammad
In a competitive three-round welterweight affair, Machado Garry’s cleaner striking and takedown defence proved decisive as he managed to keep the fight on the feet. And while Muhammad certainly had some success of his own on the feet, it was Machado Garry’s work that looked the cleaner and more impactful.
There were two flashpoints during the fight, when Machado Garry was twice warned for eye pokes. The first seemed legitimate, but the second appeared to be more of a knuckle than an outstretched finger. Had referee Rich Mitchell taken a stronger stance with that second foul, it could have resulted in a point deduction.
But, regardless, Machado Garry’s command of the fight ensured that he ran out a clear victor – and would still have done, with the point deduction.
What’s next for Ian Machado Garry?
There’s no doubting what Machado Garry wants next. After defeating the top-ranked contender, he sees himself as the new number-one contender at 170 pounds, and from a pure meritocratic standpoint, it’s hard to argue.
But the last couple of weeks have given the UFC’s matchmakers the chance to run the rule over several of the division’s top contenders within a short space of time, and while Machado Garry’s win over No. 1-ranked Muhammad certainly carries plenty of weight, it was a victory over a fighter who had lost his previous fight.
By contrast, Michael Morales demolished an in-form No. 2-ranked Sean Brady at UFC 322. Morales delivered the more impressive performance, against a fighter in better form. He’s also undefeated and riding a streak of three consecutive first-round finishes.
With that in mind, the UFC’s matchmakers could potentially see Morales as the more compelling option, but with Ramadan starting in mid-February, it seems highly likely that the UFC could ask Machado Garry and Morales to battle it out for the next title shot, while Makhachev observes Ramadan before returning in the late spring, early summer.
UFC Qatar: Official results
MAIN CARD
- Arman Tsarukyan def. Dan Hooker via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 2, 3:34
- Ian Machado Garry def. Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Volkan Oezdemir def. Alonzo Menifield via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:27
- Myktbek Orolbai def. Jack Hermansson via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 2:46
- Waldo Cortes Acosta def. Shamil Gaziev knockout (punch) – Round 1, 1:22
- Kyoji Horiguchi def. Tagir Ulanbekov via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 2:18
PRELIMINARY CARD
- Luke Riley def. Bogdan Grad via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 0:30
- Nicolas Dalby def. Saygid Izagakhmaev via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Asu Almabayev def. Alex Perez via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 3, 0:22
- Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev def. Rafael Cerqueira via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 0:33
- Aleksandre Topuria def. Beksat Almakhan via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Ismail Naurdiev def. Ryan Loder via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 1:26
- Nurullo Aliev def. Shem Rock via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Denzel Freeman def. Marek Bujlo via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
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