Ian Machado Garry has waited months for the moment to become official. Now that it is, the Irish contender believes the timing could not be better.
Speaking with Fighters Only in Dublin while promoting his signing with Matchroom Talent Agency, Garry (17-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) projected the same confidence that has defined his rise through the UFC. With an August 15 welterweight title fight against Islam Makhachev (28-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) finally locked in, he sees the matchup not only as his biggest opportunity, but as the perfect stylistic test.
“Amazing. I think it's the perfect matchup (for me) and the worst matchup for him.”
The announcement ends months of speculation over who would challenge for the title. While other contenders campaigned publicly, Garry insists he already knew where he stood behind the scenes.
“So I was told in November that Kamaru Usman wasn't next from one of the bosses because of my interview on Ariel (Helwani) and I was like, ‘thank you for clarifying that because this is ridiculous.' I was told in January I was next. And you have all these other lads out there doing ‘I'm next, I'm this, I'm that.’ They were just lying to their fans. But they're trying to play the relevancy card because there were questions, there were rumors and they did a good job.
“But I don't lie. I tell the truth every single time. I knew I was next and I've proved it. I'm fighting for the world title on August 15th, and I cannot wait for that opportunity. It's a massive fight for both me, my career, my legacy, but also for my country. And I can't wait to go out there and get this win back.”
The extended wait may ultimately work in Garry's favor. The unbeaten Irishman has had more time to prepare for one of the sport's most accomplished champions, while his own path to a title shot has included valuable lessons against elite competition.
Rather than dwelling on the delays, Garry believes everything has unfolded exactly as it was supposed to.
“I feel like the less I try and control things, and the more I just leave it up to God…I know why I got into fighting. I remember turning to my dad when I was a kid and saying, ‘I really want to punch someone in the face. Can I join boxing?’ I have no idea why I said that, why I felt that way.
“But it's been clearer to me as I've got older and wiser and understood things more that there was a plan for me. And there has been a road that's been paved for me. And there's many, many times that I could swerve off that road and go down a different one that's not meant for me.
“But I've been so tunnel visioned and so focused on keeping me on that destiny. I care so much about my career. And I want to fight over and over and over again. I don't want to be out for nine months. But I have to sit there and go, ‘There’s a plan. Stick to it and that belt will be mine.”
While Garry wasn't about to reveal his tactical blueprint for dethroning Makhachev, he pointed to qualities he believes separate him from every other challenger.
“My mindset. My vision, and my flight IQ. Three things that can't be taught. You either have them or you don't.”
Garry also rejects the notion that upsetting a champion as dominant as Makhachev would be unprecedented. He points to recent title fight surprises as proof that the impossible can quickly become reality in mixed martial arts.
“If people think when Sean Strickland goes out and beats Khamzat Chimaev and upsets the apple cart (like) no one expected…No one can sit here and think that it's impossible that I can beat Islam Makhachev. If anything, I'm a far more dangerous threat. I'm far more complete and I have way, way, way more ways of winning that fight.
“I am the most dangerous opponent for Islam Makhachev and it's my job to go and prove that on August 15th.”
For Garry, the title fight represents far more than a championship opportunity. It is the culmination of years spent believing his path was already written, even when the outside world questioned whether he would get the chance. Now, with the biggest fight of his career just weeks away, he is convinced that every delay, every rumor, and every step along the way has led him exactly where he was meant to be.
