Ian Garry Claims Islam Makhachev Turned Down Fight Offer and White House Bout

Ian Garry is claiming that lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has turned down not one but two significant fight proposals, according to reports that have not been officially confirmed by the UFC.

Garry says he was offered a bout against Makhachev at UFC 328 in May and that the champion declined. He also alleges the promotion attempted to arrange a marquee matchup between Makhachev and Ilia Topuria at the White House, a high-profile setting that would have drawn enormous attention, and that Makhachev turned that down as well.

Makhachev, 34, carries a 28-1 record and currently holds the welterweight championship, with a pound-for-pound ranking that places him at the top of the sport. The Russian fighter, who trains with Eagles MMA, is a technically complete competitor, landing 2.63 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 58 percent while also averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes — one of the most well-rounded profiles in the game.

Topuria, ranked number one pound-for-pound and second in the lightweight division, presents a sharp contrast in style. The 29-year-old Spaniard is an aggressive volume striker who lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute, and his 17-1 record has established him as one of the most dangerous fighters in the world at 155 pounds.

Why it matters

• Makhachev allegedly declining multiple proposals raises questions about his next competitive step as champion.
• A Makhachev versus Topuria matchup would carry enormous divisional and pound-for-pound implications, potentially unifying the top two spots on the global rankings.
• Garry's claim that he was in line for a title shot adds an additional layer of intrigue to the lightweight division's near-term landscape.
• None of Garry's assertions have been officially confirmed, and the UFC has not publicly addressed either proposal.