Ian Garry has reacted to statements made by Islam Makhachev regarding the lightweight champion's willingness to face Ilia Topuria. Makhachev recently addressed claims that he turned down a potential superfight with the featherweight champion. The post does not provide specific details about Garry's response or the nature of his comments. This appears to be part of ongoing back-and-forth between camps regarding the possibility of a champion versus champion matchup.
Ian Garry has weighed in on the ongoing public dispute between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria's camps over a potential champion-versus-champion superfight, adding another voice to one of MMA's most discussed potential matchups.
Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion, recently pushed back against claims that he declined a superfight with Topuria. The 34-year-old Russian, who trains out of Eagles MMA, carries a 28-1-0 record and holds the number-one pound-for-pound ranking. Fighting out of a southpaw stance, Makhachev blends elite grappling — averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes — with a striking accuracy rate of 58 percent, among the highest in the sport.
Topuria, ranked number one pound-for-pound and the number-two contender in the lightweight division, is the other figure at the center of the conversation. The 29-year-old Spaniard known as "El Matador" holds a 17-1-0 record and is one of the most active strikers in the game, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute. Standing five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach, he trains out of Climent Club and fights out of an orthodox stance.
Why it matters
- A Makhachev versus Topuria superfight would involve the top two pound-for-pound fighters in the UFC
- The back-and-forth between camps suggests negotiations or discussions around the matchup remain unsettled
- Garry's public involvement signals the conversation has expanded beyond just the two champion camps
- Style contrast is stark — Makhachev's grappling-first approach against Topuria's high-volume striking output
The specific content of Garry's comments has not been detailed, and no official fight announcement has been made. The exchange remains part of a broader public discussion around whether a cross-divisional title fight between Makhachev and Topuria can be agreed upon.
