The UFC 310 co-main event on Saturday features a welterweight bout between two undefeated contenders. Third-ranked Shavkat Rakhmonov (18-0) takes on seventh-ranked Ian Machado Garry (15-0) in a fight that will determine the next title challenger.
Garry was originally scheduled to face Joaquin Buckley in the headlining bout of UFC on ESPN 63 event on Dec. 14 in Tampa, Florida. Garry wasn’t happy about fighting someone ranked lower than him but wanted to stay active. When champion Belal Muhammad was forced out of the UFC 310 main event against Rakhmonov, Garry stepped in.
Before signing the bout agreement to take on Buckley, Garry, and the fight promotion, were looking to book a grudge match between Garry and Colby Covington.
“I had many conversations back-to-back with the UFC. Through me, through my agents, through multiple contacts with the matchmakers. Initially the goal was to line up a fight with Colby Covington,” Garry explained during an appearance on the Ariel Helwani Show. “It’s no secret that he’s been running.”
Ian Machado Garry accuses Kamaru Usman of ‘running’
According to Garry, UFC matchmakers then targeted a bout with former champion Kamaru Usman. Garry lumped Usman in with Covington and accused “The Nigerian Nightmare” of ‘running’ as well.
“Then they went down the line and let’s look at Kamaru Usman. Kamaru Usman words, or literally the words I heard from the UFC was, ‘Kamaru Usman wants nothing to do with you,’ as in he’s just running as well.”
Garry then took it a step further and attacked the second-ranked welterweight in the world’s manhood.
“Usman has a big chest and little balls,” Garry said. “He’s got a big chest. He looks good. He plays the part, but where it matters, between the legs, he’s a little man. That’s my outlook on it.”
Ian Machado Garry disappointed in the top-ranked welterweights
Garry wants challenges that will put him closer to fighting for UFC gold. He wants to take on fighters ranked ahead of him, but has found that to be difficult.
“I want to fight guys that are going to get me a step closer to that world title shot, not defending my number. I want to progress up the rankings,” Garry said. “It’s irritating because it’s meant to be six of the baddest men on the planet in front of me, but they’re not, really. They’re very sensitive and they’re very selective of who they fight. It’s disappointing.”
