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Ian Machado Garry has ambitious plans for the near future of his fighting career.
Winning a UFC championship belt, becoming the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter MMA fighter on the planet, and avenging his only career loss – those are the goals Machado Garry has in mind for his next three fights in the octagon. Machado Garry laid out his bold plan following his decision win over Carlos Prates this past Saturday in the main event of UFC on ESPN 66 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.
"You guys know I like plans, right? You guys know I have visions in my mind," Machado Garry told reporters at the UFC on ESPN 66 post-fight press conference. "Well, let me tell you what's next. I'm going to fight the winner, and I believe it's Belal (Muhammad). That's nothing against Jack (Della Maddalena), I just believe Belal has what it takes to get this fight done and quite convincingly. So I'm going to fight Belal next, and I'm going to beat Belal. Belal said it many times: I am the toughest opponent in the division for him.
Muhammad, UFC welterweight champion, is scheduled to defend his title against Maddelena in the main event of UFC 315 on May 10. Machado Garry was labeled by UFC CEO Dana White as the official backup for the title fight if either of fighter falls through.
Machado Garry expects Muhammad to retain his belt, which would open up a big fight against UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, whom many regard as today's No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in MMA. Makhachev has publicly expressed his want to move up and challenge for the belt at 170 pounds, but he would only do so should his friend Muhammad lose his title.
"When Belal doesn't have the belt, there's a certain pound-for-pound No. 1 that wants to come up, and his name is Islam Makhachev," Machado Garry said. "I have nothing but love and respect for that man and his style, and it'd be an honor to share the octagon with him. I would love to go out there and prove against him, in my first title defense, that I'm the pound-for-pound No. 1. I beat him, I take that status, I win my first title defense and then, Shavkat (Rakhmonov) gets the rematch. I'm going to go out there and dismantle that man and prove that he never won that fight. And that's my three-fight plan. That's how I see it going, and I don't want that any other way."
Machado Garry wants to close out this three-fight plan against the only man that's been able to defeat him in his professional career. In a competitive fight, Shavkat Rakhmonov defeat Machado Garry to win a unanimous decision last December. Not only was it Machado Garry's first loss, but also the first time the undefeated Rakhmonov didn't pick up a stoppage win.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Ian Machado Garry lays out 3-fight UFC plan
Continue reading...
Winning a UFC championship belt, becoming the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter MMA fighter on the planet, and avenging his only career loss – those are the goals Machado Garry has in mind for his next three fights in the octagon. Machado Garry laid out his bold plan following his decision win over Carlos Prates this past Saturday in the main event of UFC on ESPN 66 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.
"You guys know I like plans, right? You guys know I have visions in my mind," Machado Garry told reporters at the UFC on ESPN 66 post-fight press conference. "Well, let me tell you what's next. I'm going to fight the winner, and I believe it's Belal (Muhammad). That's nothing against Jack (Della Maddalena), I just believe Belal has what it takes to get this fight done and quite convincingly. So I'm going to fight Belal next, and I'm going to beat Belal. Belal said it many times: I am the toughest opponent in the division for him.
Muhammad, UFC welterweight champion, is scheduled to defend his title against Maddelena in the main event of UFC 315 on May 10. Machado Garry was labeled by UFC CEO Dana White as the official backup for the title fight if either of fighter falls through.
Machado Garry expects Muhammad to retain his belt, which would open up a big fight against UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, whom many regard as today's No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in MMA. Makhachev has publicly expressed his want to move up and challenge for the belt at 170 pounds, but he would only do so should his friend Muhammad lose his title.
"When Belal doesn't have the belt, there's a certain pound-for-pound No. 1 that wants to come up, and his name is Islam Makhachev," Machado Garry said. "I have nothing but love and respect for that man and his style, and it'd be an honor to share the octagon with him. I would love to go out there and prove against him, in my first title defense, that I'm the pound-for-pound No. 1. I beat him, I take that status, I win my first title defense and then, Shavkat (Rakhmonov) gets the rematch. I'm going to go out there and dismantle that man and prove that he never won that fight. And that's my three-fight plan. That's how I see it going, and I don't want that any other way."
Machado Garry wants to close out this three-fight plan against the only man that's been able to defeat him in his professional career. In a competitive fight, Shavkat Rakhmonov defeat Machado Garry to win a unanimous decision last December. Not only was it Machado Garry's first loss, but also the first time the undefeated Rakhmonov didn't pick up a stoppage win.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Ian Machado Garry lays out 3-fight UFC plan
Continue reading...
