Can Machado Garry Grab Ufc Welterweight Spotlight?

Ian Machado Garry says he has nan opportunity to make everyone other successful nan UFC's welterweight section "irrelevant" erstwhile he faces Belal Muhammad successful Qatar connected Saturday.

The Irishman, who is classed sixth, faces second-ranked American Muhammad successful a bout which could find nan number 1 contender to look welterweight champion Islam Makhachev.

Makhachev dominated Jack Della Maddalena to triumph nan loop astatine UFC 322 past week connected a paper wherever a number of chap welterweights put themselves successful nan spotlight.

Brazil's Carlos Prates knocked retired Britain's erstwhile champion Leon Edwards, while Ecuador's Michael Morales stopped American Sean Brady successful arsenic awesome fashion.

"I want to make 1 point clear. Everyone successful this room, each question and reply I've done this week, they're each asking astir group from past week," said Machado Garry.

"This week, erstwhile I sound retired Belal Muhammad, I make each different personification successful nan welterweight section irrelevant. I americium going to cement myself arsenic nan number 1 contender.

"Islam Makhachev, get ready, I'll spot you soon. Wherever and whenever you want, we're next."

A triumph for nan 28-year-old Machado Garry complete erstwhile champion Muhammad, 37, will undoubtedly thrust his sanction into nan speech surrounding Makhachev's adjacent challenger, but he whitethorn person to do thing typical to get nan nod.

Prates' consecutive near which downed Edwards provided nan societal media item of nan paper successful a triumph which saw him move up to 5th successful nan welterweight rankings.

Morales, meanwhile, outclassed Brady connected nan feet earlier dealing nan fight-ending operation which saw him widen his unbeaten grounds to 19 and move up to 3rd successful nan rankings.

Shavkat Rakhmonov, meanwhile, who is classed 4 and hit Machado Garry past December, has vanished six of his 7 UFC opponents, but nan Kazakhstan combatant is presently retired injured.

Fighters who decorativeness opponents are often prioritised for title bouts because they are deemed much breathtaking to watch and that generates much viewers and much money for nan UFC.

Prates (100%), Rakhmonov (86%) and Morales (71%) each person higher decorativeness rates than Machado Garry (33%) successful nan UFC, but he is assured of convincing matchmakers he deserves to beryllium next.

"It's astir maine being nan champion and astir interesting," added Machado Garry. "The guys did a awesome occupation past week, however, I americium nan deciding facet successful what happens to nan remainder of nan division.

"My full extremity this play is to spell retired location and time off it undoubted, and unquestionable and undeniable that Ian Machado Gary is nan champion welterweight stepping nan satellite correct now."

After his triumph complete Della Maddalena, Makhachev, 34, has called for a title conflict pinch erstwhile champion Kamaru Usman.

The 38-year-old Nigerian, who hit Joaquin Edwards successful June, is eighth successful nan welterweight rankings, 1 spot supra Edwards.

Machado Garry argues nan section has moved on, and Makhachev should beryllium targeting younger fighters for illustration himself, Prates and Morales alternatively than "has-beens".

"If I were Islam I'd want to conflict Usman too, because it's an easy fight, an easy salary cheque and a first title defence," he added.

"That, for me, is simply a cop-out. Fight 1 of nan up and comers, guys that are hungry, that person not felt for illustration what it's for illustration to beryllium a champion, that are driven to execute their dreams."

Two team-mates of British lightweight Paddy Pimblett are group to make their UFC debuts connected nan undercard.

Liverpool's Luke Riley, who has won nan first 11 fights of his career, takes connected Austria's Bogdan Grad astatine featherweight.

Fellow Liverpudlian Shem Rock, meanwhile, faces Tajikistan's Nurullo Aliev astatine lightweight.

Pimblett, who is 5th successful nan UFC's lightweight rankings, has travelled pinch nan brace and is group to area them for their bouts successful Doha.

It is apt he will transverse paths pinch lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, whose relative Aleksandre besides fights connected nan undercard.