Ian Machado Garry is as confident as he’s ever been ahead of his big welterweight showdown with former champion Belal Muhammad at UFC Qatar.
“The Future” arrives in Qatar to headline the promotion’s first visit to the country on Nov. 22, putting Garry in a prime spot to reach his championship aspirations. Beating a former champion would be a perfect stepping stone for the Irishman, as Muhammad attempts to rebound from his title loss to Jack Della Maddalena this past May.
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Initially all signs pointed to a potential contender clash between Garry and the No. 2-ranked Sean Brady. That’s according to Garry, anyway, who revealed on Tuesday’s edition of “The Ariel Helwani Show” that both parties agreed to compete in UFC Vancouver’s main event this Saturday before UFC matchmakers pivoted. Instead, Brady will face Michael Morales a week prior to UFC Qatar, on the same night as the division’s title tilt between the champion Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev at UFC 322.
Among the crop of welterweight talent soon to be in action, Garry intends to shine brightest.
“I’m going to finish Belal Muhammad,” Garry told Uncrowned. “That is my goal. That is my single one focus of this fight. I want to go out there and leave it unquestionable that I am the single greatest welterweight walking on the planet, because they’re going to be able to compare us over the last seven days. They’re going to be able to compare us all. I want everyone to say that I looked the best.
“Whoever wins that belt, Jack or Islam, I don’t mind. I really don’t have any preference. I’m going to fight both of them eventually, I believe. … I am going to fight them wherever, whenever. I will punch a hole in their head because there is nobody on this planet stopping me from getting that belt wrapped around my waist. We are this close to succeeding in that takeover, part two. I told the entire UFC fan base on the mic — I’m the future, I am inevitable, and I’m this close to proving it.”
With November shaping up to be the month of welterweights, and the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov still sidelined, it’s not presumptuous to think Garry could emerge from the field with a title shot in hand.
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Rounding out the 170-pound marathon is another matchup of top contenders at UFC 322, former champ Leon Edwards vs. Carlos Prates. Considering his familiarity with each man — and animosity towards Edwards — Garry fully expects his recent foe to get the job done against Edwards.
“I think he’s going to absolutely starch Leon,” Garry said of Prates. “I’ve been saying this for a long time. [Edwards] should be retired — and we might see that. I’m shocked he took the fight in the first place. He’s been shouting and screaming about wanting to fight a striker for so long, and now he’s got his opportunity, and I think he’s going to absolutely punch round.”
Despite any differences the two welterweights may have from their past training disagreements, Garry has no desire or wish to compete with Edwards before all is said and done. Not because he wouldn’t mind punching the Brit upside the head, but because of the financial gain their collision would bring.
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“If he was willing to fight me for all or nothing, I’d fight him in a heartbeat, because I’d make sure he’d leave there absolutely punch-round, unconscious, and then leave with no benefit,” Garry said. “But I have no want [or] desire to see him nor his team ever. They lied, and I don’t like liars. When people make up lies and things that aren’t true, I don’t like that. I know peoples’ true colors then, and I know the truth.
“I’m going to have a Brazil flag on my shoulders come Nov. 15, cheering Carlos Prates on and watching him spark Leon Edward unconscious.”
A win for Garry over Muhammad at UFC Qatar would get him back on a hot streak after his unanimous decision setback in December to the aforementioned Rakhmonov — the only loss of Garry’s pro career. Therefore, style points will presumably be a necessity for Garry to stand tallest among the heap next month.
Luckily for the Irishman, Muhammad has the pedigree to be a significant ticket.
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“When you knock out a former champion, and he’s number one in the world right now, and you smash him in less rounds than ‘JDM’ could, that’s all that matters to me,” Garry said. “I know I’m getting a world title fight after this.”
