Ian Garry has called Islam Makhachev a "princess" while expressing frustration over delays in finalizing their potential fight. Garry claims he has been waiting for Makhachev's agreement since May, accusing the champion of changing his timeline from August to July while citing a hand injury. The Irish welterweight stated he has been ready since Makhachev pulled out of a May bout. Makhachev responded to Garry, saying not to worry about his injuries and that he is ready to fight anytime against anyone, just waiting for the contract.
Ian Garry has publicly mocked UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, calling him a "princess" as frustration mounts over delays in confirming their potential title fight.
The Irish contender claims he has been waiting for Makhachev's commitment since May, and says the champion shifted his timeline from August to July while also citing a hand injury as a reason for the holdup. Garry stated he has been ready to compete since Makhachev withdrew from a May bout, and his patience appears to have run out.
Makhachev, 34, holds a 28-1 record and sits atop the welterweight division as champion, also ranking among the top pound-for-pound fighters on the roster. The Russian southpaw, who trains with Eagles MMA, stands five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach and has built his dominance on a suffocating combination of striking and grappling. He lands 2.63 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate, while averaging 3.2 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes — a statistical profile that underlines just how difficult he is to fight in any phase.
Makhachev has since pushed back on Garry's comments, saying Garry should not concern himself with the champion's injury situation and insisting he is ready to fight anytime against anyone, adding that he is simply waiting on the contract to be finalized.
Why it matters
- A title fight between Garry and Makhachev would put the welterweight belt on the line, raising the stakes for the entire division.
- Makhachev's grappling-heavy style represents a sharply different challenge from anything Garry has faced at this level.
- The public back-and-forth suggests both sides want the fight, but the contract remains unsigned, leaving the matchup in an uncertain state.
- If the bout falls through, both fighters' near-term scheduling could be significantly disrupted given the time already invested in negotiations.
