Ian Garry says Islam Makhachev declined a formal offer to fight him in May at UFC 328. Garry also claims the UFC attempted to arrange a Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria bout at the White House, but that Makhachev turned that down as well.
Ian Garry is claiming that UFC lightweight and welterweight champion Islam Makhachev turned down not one but two significant fight opportunities, including a formal offer to meet Garry at UFC 328 in May and a proposed White House bout against Ilia Topuria — though neither claim has been officially confirmed.
According to Garry, the UFC extended a legitimate offer for Makhachev to defend or compete at UFC 328, which Makhachev declined. Garry further alleges the promotion went as far as attempting to arrange a high-profile matchup between Makhachev and Topuria at the White House, only for Makhachev to pass on that as well.
Makhachev, 34, carries a 28-1-0 record and currently holds champion status at welterweight. The Russian southpaw, who trains with Eagles MMA, is one of the most complete fighters in the sport, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing strikes at a 58 percent accuracy clip — the highest among elite title contenders.
Topuria, ranked second in the lightweight division and first on the pound-for-pound list, enters any conversation as one of the most dangerous opponents available. The 29-year-old Spaniard is 17-1-0 and fights out of an orthodox stance, standing five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach. He generates an eye-catching 4.81 significant strikes per minute, making him one of the most offensively active fighters in the sport.
Why it matters
- A Makhachev vs. Topuria matchup would pit the pound-for-pound number-two against the number-one, with massive cross-divisional implications
- Garry's callout adds a second potential opponent angle, raising questions about Makhachev's next move at welterweight
- Because these claims come from Garry alone and are unverified, the UFC's and Makhachev's positions remain unknown
