Ian Machado Garry secures dominant decision win over Belal Muhammad. On Saturday, November 22, 2025, the ABHA Arena in Doha, Qatar hosted the UFC’s first-ever card in the country. The co-main event of the night saw welterweight contenders Belal Muhammad and undefeated Irish star Ian Machado Garry put on a high-stakes, dramatic showdown..
Belal Muhammad recent outing was a tough unanimous-decision loss to Jack Della Maddalena on May 10, 2025, at UFC 315, where he fought hard but ultimately lost the welterweight title. Before that setback, Muhammad delivered the biggest win of his career, defeating Leon Edwards by unanimous decision on July 27, 2024, to become UFC welterweight champion. His victory over Edwards showcased the composed, strategic style that has defined Muhammad’s rise. He also scored a commanding win over Gilbert Burns at UFC 288 in May 2023, outworking the Brazilian across five rounds. This victory cemented Muhammad as a top contender and set the stage for his eventual title shot. Despite elite wins, Muhammad’s record also reflects the challenges of a long career at the top. His notable past losses include decision defeats to Alan Jouban and Geoff Neal.
Ian Machado Garry, his opponent entered the fight with renewed momentum after bouncing back from the first loss of his professional career. Garry’s most recent performance was a unanimous-decision win over Carlos Prates on April 26, 2025. His composure and technical discipline helped him shut down the Brazilian’s offense for all three rounds. In late 2024, Garry faced the toughest challenge of his career when he suffered his first professional loss to elite welterweight Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 on December 7, dropping a clear unanimous decision. The defeat humbled him. Before that setback, Garry scored one of his biggest victories when he defeated veteran striker Michael Page by unanimous decision on June 29, 2024. The fight showcased Garry’s ability to blend footwork, and counter-striking.
Garry started the fight using good footwork and leg kicks to keep distance and establish his striking rhythm. Muhammad tried to close the distance and pressured Garry against the cage. Garry landed a solid combination before Muhammad backed him up, and there was a brief pause after Garry accidentally poked Muhammad in the eye. After the restart, Garry landed another low kick, and Muhammad responded with a right hand before forcing a clinch. At the end of the first round, Muhammad pushed forward, but Garry separated and landed clean strikes to close it out.
Round 2 started and Garry came out strong with leg kicks and maintained range, while Muhammad landed a right hand to keep things competitive. Muhammad looked for a takedown, but Garry deflected it and stayed upright. Garry threw a spinning back kick to the body. Muhammad shot in for a single-leg takedown, but Garry defended and forced a clinch against the cage, at one point, Garry poked Muhammad in the eye again, which led to a restart but no point deduction. In the final seconds of the second round, Garry landed a jab and an elbow after breaking from the clinch, finishing the round with control.
Muhammad started round 3 aggressively, landing a clean 1-2, but Garry responded with a sharp calf kick. Garry slipped a right hand, then landed a left hook and followed up with a front kick, dictating the pace. Muhammad attempted a double-leg takedown but Garry defended well, pushing him back to the fence. After separating again, Garry landed more leg kicks and a jab. Muhammad clinched one final time, but Garry reversed and escaped. In the last 30 seconds, Garry landed an elbow in close, then fired off jabs. Muhammad threw a head kick that missed just before the bell.
“That man didn’t surprise me at all,” Garry said about his win. “There’s a reason he was the world champion and he hasn’t been finished in nine years. He’s just a tough guy. I’m telling everyone this now, I’m phenomenal on the feet, I’m phenomenal on the ground if you can get me there. “I just beat the No. 1 ranked welterweight on the planet … Belal couldn’t take me down, Islam [Makhachev] you try to take me down. I’m the best in the world. You come into my division and you show up wherever you want in the world and I’ll be there. You’re done. Sign the contract and I will see you soon.”
Main Card
Arman Tsarukyan def. Dan Hooker via submission (triangle choke) (R2, 3:34)
Ian Machado Garry def. Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
Volkan Oezdemir def. Alonzo Menifield via first-round KO (1:27)
Myktybek Orolbai def. Jack Hermansson via first-round KO (2:46)
Waldo Cortes-Acosta def. Shamil Gaziev via first-round KO (1:22)
Kyoji Horiguchi def. Tagir Ulanbekov via submission (RNC) (R3, 2:18)
Preliminary Card
Luke Riley def. Bogdan Grad via second-round KO (0:30)
Nicolas Dalby def. Saygid Izagakhmaev via split decision (29-28 x2 28-29)
Asu Almabayev def. Alex Perez via submission (guillotine choke) (R3, 0:22)
Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev def. Raffael Cerqueira via submission (RNC) (R1, 0:33)
Aleksandre Topuria def. Bekzat Almakhan via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
Ismail Naurdiev def. Ryan Loder via KO (punch) (R1, 1:26)
Nurullo Aliev def. Shem Rock via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Denzel Freeman def. Marek Bujlo via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)
