Fresh off avenging his first MMA defeat, Ian Machado Garry is now ready to ruin someone else's perfect record.
"I'm not afraid of anyone, and I believe I can beat everyone in this sport," Machado Garry told Covers in an exclusive interview. "If there's a way to do it, I can find it."
Never once lacking in confidence, Machado Garry (16-1-1) is on a high after gutting out a unanimous five-round decision victory over Carlos Prates at the April 29 UFC on ESPN card in Kansas City. That W erased the sting of a five-round decision defeat to Shavkat Rakhmonov in his previous bout at UFC 310 last December.
Key Takeaways
- I’d beat Khamzat Chimaev – he’s never fought anyone like me
- Islam should face Della Maddalena next – and Makhachev would be in tough
- On facing Della Maddalena himself: I am the biggest draw
- Pimblett vs Topuria will be one of the biggest fights in UFC history
- I don’t care about sharing a card with Conor McGregor – I just want to see him fight
- I can be the superstar the UFC lacks
With a bounceback win now on his resume, Machado Garry has a message for unbeaten foe Khamzat Chimaev (14-0): Step in the ring with me, and you'll have your own first loss to deal with.
"I think Khamzat is phenomenal at what he does," Machado Garry told Covers. "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. And with what he's done in his career, and how he's done it. That would get me excited."
Machado Garry will have to wait for a potential Chimaev bout, with the highly-regarded fighter scheduled to face Dricus Du Plessis (23-2) for the UFC Middleweight Championship at UFC 319 on Aug. 16 in Chicago.
Machado Garry's wish list includes Della Maddalena, Makhachev
As you might expect, a Chimaev showdown isn't the only fight the outspoken Irishman is willing to take. And Machado Garry's list of dream fights includes some of the sport's biggest names – highlighted by lightweight champion and MMA mega-star Islam Makhachev (27-1).
Makhachev has announced his intention to vacate the lightweight belt in order to move up a weight class – and he'll no doubt have his sights set on current welterweight title-holder Jack Della Maddalena. Machado Garry suggested that a Makhachev-Della Maddalena tilt would be "phenomenal".
"I feel like it should be that (Islam facing Jack Della Maddalena next)," Machado Garry explained. "I feel like Islam Makhachev is the pound for pound No. 1.
"Size matters and when you're giving up an extra 15 pounds to move up a division – yes, Islam Makhachev is big and yes, Islam is strong, and we know that he walks around more than 155. We know he probably walks around 180-190. But Jack is just a bigger human, and I watch (Islam’s) fights with Alex Volkanovski and Dustin Poirier, and I see those fights, yes, Islam looked great, and Islam did what he needed to do. But Jack is a bigger man. He hits harder. Everything stings more."
Machado Garry says that, if Islam wins the title, he's got next.
"If people want to market it as Dagestan versus Ireland if me and Islam Makhachev ever cross paths, then they can," Machado Garry said. "But I feel like that's bringing in two people like Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov, who have had their rivalry and have done and said the things they've said.
"Islam right now is the pound for pound No. 1. He's trying to move up and fight for the welterweight world title, and if he wins there is absolutely every scenario that I'm going to call for that fight because there is nothing more I want to do than go out there and beat the No. 1 pound for pound, get the belt and prove that I'm one of the best in the world."
In the interim, Machado Garry believes he has earned the right to challenge the current champ for the title.
"100% I'm in the conversation for a shot at Jack Della Maddalena next," he told Covers. "There's not a bigger name that you can mention in the division right now other than mine - you can put anyone else in there but the argument is there that I am the biggest draw, and if you put whoever versus me for the world title, it would be the biggest fight."
Machado Garry: Pimblett-Topuria would be seismic
In-between calling out potential future opponents, Machado Garry – who says he hopes to fight two more times in 2025 - took time to credit Paddy Pimblett (23-3) and suggested that a Pimblett-Ilia Topuria bout would be one of the biggest fights MMA fans have ever seen.
"Paddy’s been phenomenal," Machado Garry told Covers. "You can’t give nothing but praise to what he's done and how he's done it. He's gone out there. He's backed up everything he said. He's beaten and is beating everyone that's been put in front of him and he’s looked great and has that popularity inside and outside the Octagon, he's doing what he needs to do, and he's doing a very good job at it.
"Paddy and Ilia is a massive, massive fight if that happens down the line. It's going to be so big, so big. I reckon that’s a stadium (fight)."
But while he acknowledges that Topuria (16-0) would serve as a worthy foil for Pimblett, Machado Garry isn't so sure the unbeaten Georgian will be able to retain his spotless record against fellow lightweight superstar Charles Oliveira (35-10-1); the two will tangle for the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 317 on June 28 in Las Vegas.
"Stylistically you've got a phenomenal power puncher who's clean as clean gets versus the flashiest, most exciting fighter we've ever seen in UFC history," Machado Garry said. "What's not to love about the matchup? It's such a tough one because if it's on the feet, Charles has the length to control and keep Ilia away, because Ilia has that punch power, and the second I believe that fight touches the ground, you've got to give all the advantage to Charles.
"I believe Charles has what it takes to go out there and get the victory. I believe he has what it takes to go out there and pull off that beautiful, flashy, rapid, fast submission - just takes an intelligent fight."
Machado Garry: Topuria is the Spanish Conor McGregor
While he doesn't have high hopes for Topuria at UFC 317, Machado Garry was effusive in his praise for the 28-year-old, comparing him to one of the sport's most enigmatic legends.
"What Conor McGregor has done for Ireland in MMA, Ilia is doing in Spain for MMA," he said. "I met with Ilia in Spain. I went to his house and trained him. I've seen what he was doing (in growing MMA popularity). MMA wasn't legal in Spain up until very recently and he would have absolutely had a massive part to play in that, becoming a world champion. Walking out with the UFC belt at the Santiago Bernabeu during a Real Madrid game.
"All of that has a part to play when your country has a world champion in a sport – that matters. So what Conor did to Irish MMA, Ilia Topuria is going to do for Spanish MMA."
That carries special significance when coming from Machado Garry, who admits to pining for a McGregor return.
"I don't even know if I want to share the bleeding card with the guy (McGregor)," Machado Garry told Covers. "I just want to see the man fight live. That's where I'm at. I don't care if we don't fight the same night. I just want to see him fight live.
"I've never been able to see a Conor card; the show, the build up, the hype, everything live – that would be more of a dream come true than to share the card with him, to be honest."
Ready to step up
There's no guarantee McGregor ever returns to the Octagon – and his absence has left a significant void when it comes to UFC star power.
Machado Garry says he's more than ready to fill the gap.
"I think the UFC has no lack of phenomenally talented fighters, but it lacks superstars that can reach outside of the MMA bubble," he said. "You've got very, very few people who can do that right now, and I believe that should be the goal.
"Let's use Paddy Pimblett as an example. If Paddy is reaching outside of the MMA world and drawing non-casual fans into MMA, then you need to put the machine behind those people. That’s what grows the sport. And the more you grow the sport, the better it is for everyone in the sport. Look at what Conor McGregor did.
"I absolutely believe I’m doing that. I’ve been told by Brazilians all across Brazil how much they support me. In my fight with Carlos Prates, I was getting more interviews from Brazilian media than he was. That just shows I have an entire country that wants to see me compete and represent them, even though they all know I’m not Brazilian.
"They resonate and feel like I am Brazilian because of the way I act, because of the way I talk, because of my family, my team, and everything that I am. It’s about connection."
