Ian Machado-Galley has turned up the warmth on Islam Makhachev, brazenly claiming the brand new welterweight champion is delaying his first title battle at 170 kilos by hiding behind a hand harm. The Irish title favourite insists he’s prepared and says he sees a sample of champions delaying their schedules after reaching the highest.
Ian Garry screams ‘excuses’ over Islam Makhachev’s harm
In a current Instagram video, Gary responded to reviews that Makhachev was coping with a hand sickness that occurred after his win over Jacques Della Maddalena at UFC 322, saying he does not imagine the story in any respect. He joked that if the harm was true, it might need occurred whereas driving quite than within the cage, underscoring how frivolous the champion’s rationalization was. Garry pressured that he’s not injured and is already in full coaching with the intention of dealing with Makhachev as quickly as potential.
Along with questioning the medical replace, Garry accused Makhachev of doing what he described as “what each champion does” as soon as he will get the belt and being inactive to take care of his place. In his view, the hand concern is an “excuse” that enables the champion to play slowly in his first welterweight protection quite than instantly placing his new title on the road in opposition to a hungry challenger. He additionally used the submit to focus on his promise that he intends to battle steadily and stay “insanely energetic” as soon as he turns into champion.
Makhachev reached welterweight because the dominant light-weight titleholder, defending the 155-pound belt 4 occasions earlier than transferring up. At UFC 311, he recorded his fourth light-weight title protection in opposition to Renato Moicano, opting to vacate the belt and chase historical past at 170. That transfer paid off at UFC 322, when he defeated Jacques Della Maddalena to win the welterweight title, including a second regional title to his resume and solidifying his pound-for-pound standing.
However since UFC 322, his subsequent steps have been clouded by a hand harm that UFC President Dana White publicly acknowledged with out offering particulars. White stated the promotion does not but understand how severe the hand concern is or how lengthy it can hold Makhachev from returning, leaving the timeline for his return unresolved. With no official medical replace and a most important occasion already deliberate for the UFC card scheduled for the White Home present (UFC Freedom 250), it is more and more possible that his first welterweight title protection shall be round Worldwide Combat Week or later in the summertime.
Gary has spent the final 12 months establishing himself as a high candidate for his first title protection and believes his observe report warrants that. At UFC Qatar in November 2025, he scored the largest win of his profession by defeating former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad by unanimous resolution within the co-main occasion. Garry shut down all seven of Muhammad’s takedown makes an attempt and beat him on the ft over three rounds, incomes scorecards of 30-27, 30-27, 29-28.
The win in Qatar follows a stretch during which Gary has seized on sudden alternatives to come back out on high in two of his previous three fights, a sample he factors to when he talks about his willingness to step in at any time when the UFC calls. This exercise has fueled his insistence that he ought to be the following participant after Makhachev, quite than sitting on the sidelines for many of 2026. Gary has additionally been open about touring to Georgia to hone his wrestling, responding to Makhachev’s earlier feedback that the job was pointless, and utilizing the trade to maintain the highlight on potential opponents.
Though Gary has been essentially the most vocal, he’s not the one candidate being talked about as a candidate for Makhachev’s first welterweight title protection. Michael Morales, an up-and-coming fighter at the moment ranked No. 3 on the earth at 170 kilos, has been within the headlines with an impressive efficiency at UFC 322 and a profitable streak. Morales’ current knockout win in that occasion helped shut the hole between him and Gary within the title battle, and there was hypothesis that the UFC may determine between the 2 relying on timing and availability as Makhachev’s hand heals.
Complicating the scenario is the UFC’s packed schedule. Dana White has already introduced the primary occasion via the White Home’s historic card set, UFC Freedom 250, so there are solely a restricted variety of locations on the calendar the place a welterweight title battle can realistically happen. If Makhachev’s restoration extends past that date, July’s Worldwide Combat Week could be a logical goal, giving the promotion time to determine whether or not Gary’s stress marketing campaign or Morales’ momentum will earn them the primary crack at championship.
Garry made it clear which path he thought issues ought to go, claiming he had carried out properly sufficient briefly order to warrant a shot contained in the cage, and dismissed Makhachev’s harm as a stalling tactic. Whether or not the UFC views this the identical method might decide whether or not Gary’s subsequent stroll is a shot on the belt, or whether or not the champion’s hand heals and he has to tackle one other high-risk bout whereas the division waits.
