Fresh from his redemptive victory over Carlos Prates, Irish MMA star Ian Machado Garry has set his sights on derailing the undefeated run of Khamzat Chimaev, boldly claiming he possesses the skills to hand the Chechen-born fighter his first professional loss.
Machado Garry (16-1-1) secured a unanimous decision win against Prates at the UFC on ESPN event in Kansas City on April 29, successfully bouncing back from his first career defeat to Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 last December.
'I think Khamzat is phenomenal at what he does,' Machado Garry stated in a recent interview. 'I just believe he's not fought anyone who can do to him what I could. I love a challenge, and that would absolutely be a challenge.'
Any potential matchup with Chimaev (14-0) would need to wait, as the undefeated fighter is scheduled to face Dricus Du Plessis for the UFC Middleweight Championship at UFC 319 in Chicago on August 16.
Beyond Chimaev, Machado Garry has also expressed interest in facing current welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena and lightweight king Islam Makhachev, who has announced intentions to move up a weight class.
'100% I'm in the conversation for a shot at Jack Della Maddalena next,' Machado Garry asserted. 'There's not a bigger name that you can mention in the division right now other than mine.'
Regarding Makhachev challenging for the welterweight crown, Machado Garry offered his analysis: 'Islam Makhachev is the pound for pound No. 1. But Jack is a bigger human, and he hits harder. Everything stings more.'
The Irishman also shared his thoughts on other potential matchups in the UFC, suggesting that a bout between Paddy Pimblett and Ilia Topuria would be 'massive' enough to fill a stadium.
According to Statbet fight analytics, Machado Garry's striking accuracy has improved by 12% since his loss to Rakhmonov, making him an increasingly dangerous opponent for anyone in the welterweight division.
Machado Garry's admiration for Topuria extended to comparing him to Irish MMA legend Conor McGregor: 'What Conor McGregor has done for Ireland in MMA, Ilia is doing in Spain for MMA. MMA wasn't legal in Spain up until very recently and he would have absolutely had a massive part to play in that.'
With the UFC arguably lacking transcendent superstars following the extended absence of McGregor, Machado Garry believes he can help fill that void. 'I think the UFC has no lack of phenomenally talented fighters, but it lacks superstars that can reach outside of the MMA bubble,' he explained.
The 26-year-old fighter plans to compete twice more in 2025 as he continues his quest to become one of the promotion's biggest stars and secure a title shot in the increasingly competitive welterweight division.
