Ian Garry publicly called out Islam Makhachev on social media, calling him a 'princess' and claiming he has been waiting for Makhachev to agree to a fight since May. Garry referenced conflicting injury reports and timeline changes, saying Makhachev first claimed a hand injury, then Dana White mentioned August while Makhachev suggested July. The Irish fighter stated he has been ready since Makhachev withdrew from the original May date. Makhachev responded by telling Garry not to worry about his injuries and stating he is ready to fight anyone at any time, just waiting for the contract. The back-and-forth highlights growing tensions between the two fighters.
Ian Garry escalated his public campaign to land a welterweight title shot on April 25, taking to social media to brand champion Islam Makhachev a "princess" and accusing him of stalling contract negotiations that Garry claims have dragged on since May.
Garry stated he has been ready to fight since Makhachev withdrew from an originally scheduled May date, and he pointed to what he described as shifting explanations from the champion's camp — first a hand injury, then conflicting timeline suggestions, with Dana White reportedly referencing August while Makhachev himself indicated July. Makhachev fired back, telling Garry not to concern himself with his injuries and insisting he is prepared to fight anyone at any time, saying the holdup is simply a matter of waiting on a contract.
The champion at the center of the dispute is a formidable obstacle for any contender. Makhachev, 34, holds a 28-1-0 record and carries the welterweight title while also sitting atop the pound-for-pound rankings. The Russian, who fights out of Eagles MMA, is a southpaw standing five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach. His grappling-heavy style is backed by 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, complemented by a striking accuracy of 58 percent.
Why it matters
- Makhachev is both welterweight champion and the top pound-for-pound fighter, making any path to him the most significant available in the division.
- The disputed timeline around injuries and scheduling suggests the negotiation process remains fluid, with no confirmed date for either fighter.
- A grappling-dominant champion against a striker in Garry presents a sharply contrasting stylistic matchup at 170 pounds.
