Islam Makhachev's manager has revealed that the UFC is planning a major bout for the welterweight champion that does not involve No. 2 contender Ian Machado Garry. Garry responded by questioning Makhachev's readiness despite his top pound-for-pound ranking. The announcement has sparked speculation about potential high-profile matchups.
Islam Makhachev captured the UFC welterweight title with a lopsided decision victory over Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 in November 2025. The 34-year-old Dagestani fighter, who vacated his lightweight belt in May 2025 after a dominant run including wins over Charles Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski, Dustin Poirier, and Renato Moicano, now holds a 28-1 record with 5 KOs and 13 submissions.
Makhachev, currently ranked No. 1 pound-for-pound, is preparing for his first welterweight title defense expected between May and July 2026, after Ramadan. His manager, Ali Abdelaziz, stated on social media that the UFC is working on a significant fight for Makhachev. "This is, I can tell you, the UFC [is] working on a big fight [for] Islam Makhachev and Ian’s name is not involved," Abdelaziz wrote. "Much bigger. One of the biggest fights in the UFC right now they can make. Stay tuned."
Ian Machado Garry, ranked No. 2 in welterweight with a 17-1 record (7 KOs, 1 submission), recently won unanimous decisions over Carlos Prates and former champion Belal Muhammad. His only loss was a unanimous decision to Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 in December 2024. Garry, who trained in Gori, Georgia, to prepare for a potential title shot, responded on Instagram: "I’m ready… He needs more time. Imagine being the number one pound-for-pound fighter on the planet and needing MORE time."
No. 1 ranked Jack Della Maddalena is scheduled to fight Carlos Prates at UFC Perth on May 2, 2026. No. 3 contender Michael Morales, with a 19-0 record, recently called out Makhachev during UFC Mexico. Abdelaziz's comments have fueled discussions about possible opponents like former champion Kamaru Usman, whom Makhachev has praised as the biggest name in welterweight and the hardest fight for him. Usman, managed by Abdelaziz, recently defeated Joaquin Buckley.
