Maybe he will fight next

With Islam Makhachev at the top of the heap at welterweight, the division looks more stacked than ever. While the newly minted champion has no shortage of contenders, two names stood out as Makhachev addressed Russian media recently.

The Dagestani seemed to want Kamaru Usman as his first title defense in the lead-up to UFC 322; his sights appear to have shifted since winning the belt from Jack Della Maddalena.

Although he hasn’t made up his mind about his next opponent, Makhachev is keeping a close eye on Ian Garry and Shavkat Rakhmonov.

During a recent media interaction, Makhachev said:

“I think the UFC will decide soon. We have at least 3 or 4 contenders now. Soon, probably in about 2 weeks, it will be clear who the next challenger will be… [Ian Garry] is a good fighter… [but] he didn’t surprise me yesterday. If he surprised the UFC, then maybe he will be next.

Makhachev also shared his thoughts on Rakhmonov:

“[Rakhmonov] hasn’t fought for over a year. A contender can’t sit out for a year with injuries and then come fight for the belt… Well, if he recovers and the UFC decides he’s next, why not?”

Check out Islam Makhachev‘s comments below:

Garry secured arguably the biggest win of his career at UFC Qatar, earning a unanimous decision over former champion Belal Muhammad. True to form, the Irishman used the limelight to issue a daring callout to Makhachev.

Similarly, Rakhmonov, now pursuing an early 2026 return after recovering from an injury, also staked his claim at the welterweight throne after UFC 322.

Ian Garry wants “Ireland vs. Dagestan 2” against Islam Makhachev

Ian Garry sees a potential fight against Islam Makhachev as the second coming of Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor. ‘The Future’ lit the spark to the storyline at the UFC Qatar post-fight presser, as he proclaimed himself McGregor’s protege while calling for a shot at the newly minted champion.

He did not stop there, but doubled down on the sentiment on his social media, attracting millions of views. Addressing his fans on Instagram, the welterweight star said:

“We did it again. We got the win, and we proved against a former champion. A tough, durable man… I can stop the takedown, and I can bang you around the feet. Listen, Islam Makhachev, I’m speaking directly to you now. You have a duty and a right to defend that belt against the best in the world, and you’re looking at him. So, whenever you are ready, whenever you want, the ball is in your court, my friend, we’ve got Ireland vs. Dagestan 2.”