Ian Machado Garry reacts to being ranked below Carlos Prates and Michael Morales. Welterweight rankings continue to stir debate, Ian Machado Garry made headlines again by expressing frustration over Carlos Prates being ranked ahead of him.
Islam Makhachev captured the welterweight belt by defeating Jack Della Maddalena in the main event of UFC 322 last weekend. On the same card, Carlos Prates who Garry has previously defeated notched a significant win, alongside Michael Morales, who also impressed with a victory. With both Morales and Prates now ranked ahead of him, Ian Machado Garry was recently asked in an interview how he felt about the current welterweight rankings. Garry called the rankings “kind of irrelevant” and expressed disbelief at being passed over.
“They’re kind of irrelevant in my mind to a certain extent because the guys that won should be above me now,” Machado Garry told MMA Junkie on the UFC welterweight rankings. “I understand that. Prates being above me, silly, but I understand it. He did knock out whatever Leon (Edwards) was in the world, No. 4, whatever it was, and Morales did knock out No. 2 in the world, so they should be there.
Garry believes his star power and recent performances justify a higher placement. “I think I’ve been like No. 7 for like the last four fights – it’s ridiculous. They just don’t want to move me up because they know the star power is there, and they’re trying to kind of hone it. I think they’re having a little Conor McGregor (situation): We can’t let this guy disappear. We know what they can do.”
Despite his disappointment, Garry remains confident about his future in the division. He emphasized that his upcoming fights will solidify his standing and prove that he belongs among the top contenders. With his confidence and determination, Garry is making it clear that being under-ranked or overlooked won’t stop him
“Come this weekend, when I knock Belal out, I shall take that No. 1 spot. I’m fighting for the No. 1 contender fight. When I win this weekend, this entire welterweight division revolves around me.”
Even if the rankings don’t show it, Ian Machado Garry isn’t worried. He’s focused on winning in the Octagon and proving that he belongs at the top of the welterweight division.
