There is currently a logjam of
UFC welterweight title contenders.
Kamaru
Usman, Michael
Morales, Ian Garry and
Carlos
Prates are all rallying for a title shot against Islam
Makhachev. Garry recently played matchmaker for the contenders,
suggesting different bookings for each other while reserving the
title shot for himself. Garry proposed a matchup between Morales
and Prates, while matching up Usman against the recently dethroned
former champion, Jack
Della Maddalena.
Advertisement
“Everybody has an opinion on who should fight whom in the
welterweight division,” Garry said on Instagram. “Here’s mine:
Carlos
Prates vs. Michael
Morales. Because it’s two power heavy hitters, and I want to
see who comes out on top. I doubt Morales would take it, because
the truth is, Carles Prates hits harder. I kind of want to see
Prates vs. JDM too. But I’m gonna match Jack
Della Maddalena vs. Kamaru
Usman… And finally, the world title fight at welterweight. I
want to see the champion Islam
Makhachev defend his belt against the No. 1 contender in the
world, Ian Machado
Garry.”
Morales: ‘The Belt Is Mine’
Morales (19-0) was clearly not impressed with Garry’s (17-1)
matchmaking. The undefeated Ecuadorian believes he will get the
next title shot against Makhachev.
“Tell [Ian Garry] to suck it and that the belt is mine,” Morales
wrote on his Instagram Stories.
Makhachev dominantly dethroned Maddalena at UFC 322
this past November. Morales and Prates emerged as contenders on the
same card with respective knockout wins over Sean Brady
and Leon
Edwards. Meanwhile, Garry defeated former champion Belal
Muhammad a week later at
UFC Qatar. However, Makhachev has clearly expressed preference
for defending his title against Usman.