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 offer down as well.
Welterweight champion Islam Makhachev has reportedly turned down not one but two separate fight offers in recent months, according to claims made by Ian Garry that have not yet been officially confirmed.
Garry says he was offered a bout against Makhachev in May at UFC 328, and that the Russian champion declined the matchup. Garry also claims the UFC went a step further, attempting to put together a high-profile Makhachev versus Ilia Topuria contest at the White House, only for Makhachev to turn that proposal down as well.
Makhachev, 34, holds a 28-1 record and currently reigns as welterweight champion while sitting atop the pound-for-pound rankings. The Eagles MMA product is a technically dominant fighter who lands 3.2 takedowns per fifteen minutes and converts at a striking accuracy of 58 percent, among the highest in the sport.
Topuria, ranked number one pound-for-pound and second in the lightweight division, carries a 17-1 record and represents one of the most dangerous opponents available at this stage of the sport's landscape. The 29-year-old Spaniard is exceptionally active on the feet, landing 4.81 significant strikes per minute, and has demonstrated well-rounded skills with nearly two takedowns per fifteen minutes as well.
Why it matters
- A Garry vs. Makhachev fight would have been a significant step up in competition for Garry with welterweight title implications
- Makhachev vs. Topuria would pit the top two pound-for-pound fighters in the world against each other across a potential catchweight or divisional crossover
- If the reports are accurate, Makhachev's reluctance to accept either offer raises questions about the direction of his reign and who he fights next
- Neither claim has been officially confirmed, and Makhachev's team has not publicly responded
