If Ian
Garry is to be believed, the welterweight title picture might
not be set in stone just yet.
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After Jack
Della Maddalena defeated Belal
Muhammad to capture the 170-pound belt at UFC 315,
all signs pointed to Islam
Makhachev moving up to received the next championship
opportunity against the newly-crowned Aussie. While that may still
be the plan, Garry claims that he is part of that discussion.
“One hundred percent, I’m in the conversation for a shot at
Jack Della Maddalena next,” Garry told Covers.com. “There’s not a bigger name that you
can mention in the division right now other than mine. You can put
anyone else in there but the argument is there that I am the
biggest draw, and if you put whoever versus me for the world title,
it would be the biggest fight.”
If Makhachev takes on Della Maddalena next as expected, Garry
believes the Dagestani might be surprised by the size of the
champion.
“Size matters and when you’re giving up an extra 15 pounds to move
up a division. Yes, Islam
Makhachev is big and yes, Islam is strong, and we know that he
walks around more than 155,” Garry said. “We know he probably walks
around probably 180-190, but Jack is just a bigger human, and I
watch [Islam’s] fights with Alex Volkanovski and Dustin
Poirier, and I see those fights, yes, Islam looked great, and
Islam did what he needed to do. But Jack is a bigger man. He hits
harder. Everything stings more.
“I believe the size discrepancy will be important. That’s the
biggest factor. Does Islam consistently take guys of that size and
stature down and hold them down? How does his strength versus
Jack’s strength match up? Stylistically, the fight’s phenomenal. Is
Islam big enough to be a welterweight when you look at him compared
to Jack? Let’s find out.”
Garry is coming off a unanimous decision triumph over highly-touted
Brazilian knockout artist Carlos
Prates at UFC
Kansas City on April 26. The Irishman has won nine of his 10
Octagon appearances, with his only defeat coming in a
closely-contested affair against Shavkat
Rakhmonov at UFC 310. If facing another contender like Sean Brady
is what’s asked of him, “The Future” is ready to take on that
challenge.
“It’s the fight that he [Sean Brady]
wants and it’s not a hard fight to organize,” Garry said. “The
truth is, it’s more about what does the UFC want? They’re the
brand, they put on the fights and if they want to see me fight
anyone they know they’re getting a ‘yes.’ I’m someone who
will fight anyone, anywhere, anytime. And, for example, Sean Brady,
it’s not a hard fight to organize. It’s just whether the UFC wants
it or not.”