Ian Machado Garry has big plans for 2026.
Machado Garry (17-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) went 2-0 inside the Octagon in 2025, solidifying his status as one of the leading contenders in the welterweight title picture with victories over Carlos Prates (23-7 MMA, 6-1 UFC) and Belal Muhammad (24-5 MMA, 15-5 UFC).
The timing of his win over former champion Muhammad could prove significant, as it came at UFC Qatar just one week after Islam Makhachev (28-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) dethroned Jack Della Maddalena to become the new king of the 170-pound division.
With undefeated contenders such as Shavkat Rakhmonov (19-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) and Michael Morales (19-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) also in the mix, the welterweight title landscape is among the most crowded in the UFC. However, “The Future” believes he will not only be first in line to challenge Makhachev, but will capture the title in emphatic fashion.
"There's going to be no excuses from anyone on the planet. When I beat him, I have beaten the greatest pound-for-pound fighter on the planet right now," Machado Garry said in a video posted to his Instagram account. "Your excuses are all finished. There's none. Don't look for them. Don't pick on them. I'll be the No. 1 pound-for-pound on the planet, I'll be the champion of the world, and then we can start the aggressive defense.
"He's a big dude. There's no excuses – none whatsoever. When I beat Islam Makhachev and I win the world title, there will be no excuses from anyone anywhere on the planet. End of (discussion). Done. They all look for something. They all want that claim, 'Oh it was this, it was that.' It couldn't have been you. It couldn't have just been that Ian's just better than you."
