Shavkat Rakhmonov has struck back at Ian Machado Garry’s claims of being the rightful UFC title contender with a harsh social media response. The Irish fighter suffered his only professional defeat to Rakhmonov at UFC 310 last December via a close decision, but Rakhmonov has since been unable to capitalize on that win due to an injury sustained in the fight.
Meanwhile, Garry has surged ahead in the rankings by securing commanding victories over Carlos Prates and former champion Belal Muhammad, creating uncertainty in the welterweight division about who will get the next shot at Islam Makhachev.
Shavkat Rakhmonov, who rarely engages in trash talk given his limited English, broke his silence by posting on social media to argue that he—not Garry—deserves the next title opportunity at 170 pounds. In his message, Rakhmonov pointed out that Garry lost to him while he was injured and noted that Garry hasn’t finished any opponents in his last six fights, highlighting that Prates nearly stopped Garry. He dismissed Garry as a top contender.
Garry has yet to reply but has been vocal since his recent win at UFC Qatar about why he should be ranked among the division’s best. Official rankings currently place Garry second, just behind former champion Jacques Della Maddalena, who recently lost his title.
Rakhmonov has been sidelined since the fight with Garry due to the injury he sustained, a situation somewhat questioned because of Garry’s use of diagonal kicks, known to cause knee issues. Though there was speculation Rakhmonov might return in January, he now says he could be back in the cage by February or March, meaning he could be out for up to 14 months.
Fan Take: This feud highlights the growing competition in the welterweight division and raises the stakes for upcoming fights. For fans, it sets up an exciting narrative of comeback and rivalry that could significantly impact the sport’s title landscape.
