Ian Machado Garry believes he has the chance to make the UFC welterweight division irrelevant when he faces Belal Muhammad in Qatar on Saturday. The Irish fighter, ranked sixth in the division, takes on the second-ranked American in a bout that could determine the number one contender to challenge welterweight champion Islam Makhachev.

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Machado Garry Aims to Cement Contender Status

Garry, 28, enters the fight with an impressive 16-1 professional record and is determined to leave no doubts about his position at the top of the division.

“This week, when I knock out Belal Muhammad, I make every other person in the welterweight division irrelevant. I am going to cement myself as the number one contender,” said Machado Garry.
“Islam Makhachev, get ready, I’ll see you soon. Wherever and whenever you want, we’re next.”

A victory over Muhammad, 37, would place Garry firmly in the conversation for a title shot, but he faces tough competition from other rising stars in the division.

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Welterweight Division Rising Stars

Last week’s UFC card saw several fighters boost their credentials:

• Carlos Prates knocked out former champion Leon Edwards, moving up to fifth in the welterweight rankings.
• Michael Morales stopped Sean Brady to extend his unbeaten record to 19, moving into third in the rankings.
• Shavkat Rakhmonov, who beat Machado Garry last December, remains out injured, though he has a high finish rate of 86% in the UFC.

Finishing opponents is highly valued in the UFC, as fighters who do so are often prioritized for title bouts due to their excitement factor and marketability. While Machado Garry’s UFC finish rate of 33% lags behind some rivals, he is confident his skills and style will make him the next contender.

“My entire goal this weekend is to go out there and leave it undoubted, unquestionable and undeniable that Ian Machado Garry is the best welterweight walking the planet right now,” he said.

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Makhachev’s Next Move

Following his dominant title-winning performance over Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322, champion Islam Makhachev has expressed interest in facing former champion Kamaru Usman. Machado Garry, however, argues the champion should target younger, hungry fighters like himself, Prates, and Morales instead of “has-beens.”

“Fight one of the up-and-comers, guys that are hungry, that have not felt what it’s like to be a champion, that are driven to achieve their dreams,” Machado Garry stated.

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UFC Debuts on the Undercard

Two teammates of British lightweight Paddy Pimblett are set to make their UFC debuts in Doha:

• Luke Riley, undefeated in 11 fights, faces Austria’s Bogdan Grad at featherweight.
• Shem Rock takes on Tajikistan’s Nurullo Aliev at lightweight.

Pimblett, ranked fifth in the UFC lightweight division, will be cornering both fighters and is expected to cross paths with lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, whose brother Aleksandre Topuria also competes on the undercard.

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Key Takeaways

• Ian Machado Garry seeks to cement himself as the number one UFC welterweight contender.
• Faces Belal Muhammad in a high-stakes bout in Qatar.
• The winner could earn a title shot against Islam Makhachev.
• Rising stars Carlos Prates and Michael Morales also made waves on last week’s UFC card.
• UFC values fighters who finish opponents, though Garry aims to prove skill and dominance can also secure a title shot.
• British prospects Luke Riley and Shem Rock set to debut on the undercard with Paddy Pimblett cornering.