Garry Questions Makhachev's Title Defense Readiness

Ian Machado Garry, a top contender in the UFC welterweight division, publicly questioned Islam Makhachev's readiness for a title defense on Monday, accusing the champion of delaying their potential matchup despite his status as the top pound-for-pound fighter in mixed martial arts.

Garry, ranked No. 2 in the 170-pound weight class, shared a post-training photo from Gori, Georgia, on Instagram, where he has been honing his wrestling skills in preparation for a possible fight. In the caption, he wrote, "I'm ready He needs more time. Imagine being the number one pound for pound fighter on the planet and needing MORE time," tagging Makhachev directly. The Irish fighter, who joined the UFC in 2021 with an undefeated record, has rebounded from a unanimous decision loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov last year with victories over Carlos Prates and former champion Belal Muhammad, positioning him as a leading candidate for a shot at the belt.

Makhachev, 34, captured the welterweight title in a dominant performance against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 last year, marking his first defense in the division after vacating the lightweight crown he had held and defended four times. The Russian...