Islam Makhachev’s first welterweight title defence could come against a familiar foe.
Since Makhachev defeated Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 to become the eleventh two-division champion in the promotion’s history, several fighters have been staking their claims for the first shot at dethroning him.
Kamaru Usman believes his legacy makes him deserving of another chance. Meanwhile, Michael Morales and Ian Machado Garry are both coming off strong wins last November.
Reports indicate that ‘The Future’ is currently seen as the most likely option to challenge Makhachev in 2026. That would set up another Ireland vs Dagestan match-up for the champion’s team.
However, Makhachev does not think it will reach that level of intensity.
Islam Makhachev does not view Ian Machado Garry as the next Conor McGregor
Eight years before the potential clash with Garry, Makhachev’s mentor was at the centre of what many still consider to be one of the most heated rivalries in UFC history.
Khabib Nurmagomedov submitted Conor McGregor at UFC 229 after a fiery build-up that featured plenty of trash talk from the Irishman. The bad blood carried over into fight night, with a post-fight brawl breaking out following ‘The Eagle’s’ win at T-Mobile Arena.
Makhachev was recently asked during an interview with Ushatayka whether he expects the Garry fight to mark the next chapter in that feud.
The reporter questioned: “Would you call the Ian Garry fight round two of the Irish vs Dagestani rivalry?
But the 34-year-old champion laughed off any comparisons between McGregor and Garry, saying: “Like they say, ‘From AliExpress,’ right?” (via Red Corner MMA).
Why Ian Machado Garry is a better choice than Kamaru Usman for Islam Makhachev’s next opponent
If Garry is indeed given the first crack at the new welterweight champ, it is a move that makes sense from a competitive standpoint.
Makhachev has long expressed interest in facing Kamaru Usman, ever since he took the title from Della Maddalena at 170 pounds.
Usman is undoubtedly one of the all-time greats and had put himself alongside Georges St-Pierre in discussions about the best welterweights before his reign came to an end.
However, decisions on title challengers should not be based solely on legacy or previous achievements.
Since 2021, Usman’s only win has come against Joaquin Buckley. Over that span, he has also dropped three fights and has just one victory in five years, now aged 38.
There are at least two fighters who deserve consideration before Usman gets another opportunity, and Garry is certainly among them.
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