On November 22, 2025, at the Lusail Sports Arena in Doha, Ian Machado Garry, the 27-year-old Irish welterweight ranked #6 in the UFC, didn’t just win a fight—he declared war on the old guard. After defeating former champion Belal Muhammad by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) in the co-main event of UFC QatarDoha, Garry turned to the camera and dropped a bomb: “Kamaru Usman is f—king irrelevant in the welterweight division right now.” The language was raw. The timing, deliberate. And the message? The welterweight division is being held hostage by nostalgia.
The New Guard vs. The Has-Beens
Garry’s win wasn’t just another decision. It was a statement. He absorbed Muhammad’s early power shots, then systematically dismantled his wrestling game with leg kicks and sharp jabs. Zero takedowns surrendered. Five clean rounds. Muhammad, a 23-3 veteran and former #1 contender, looked like a man running out of time. Garry didn’t just beat him—he exposed the gap between the old system and the new reality. And he wasn’t done talking. In his post-fight interview, Garry didn’t just criticize Usman—he dissected the entire machine behind him. “Excuse my language,” he said, “but it’s the fact. He’s a has-been.” Usman, 38, hasn’t won a fight since March 2022. His three-fight losing streak to Leon Edwards and others had him written off. Then, last month, he scraped past an unranked opponent. Suddenly, he’s in title conversation. Garry called it a “cop out.” “They’re not building a legacy,” he said. “They’re building a paycheck.”The Khabib Factor
The real target? Khabib Nurmagomedov and his Eagle Fighting Championship team in Dagestan, Russia. Garry accused them of manipulating the narrative to push a fight between current champion Islam Makhachev and Usman. “They know how to spin the wording to build a fight,” Garry said. “They don’t care about rankings. They care about the numbers.” And he’s not wrong. Usman’s championship reign (2019–2022) drew 750,000 PPV buys per fight. Makhachev, despite being the dominant champion since August 2023, has yet to headline a true blockbuster. A Usman rematch? That’s guaranteed money. But as Garry pointed out: “If I was Islam, I would want to fight Kamaru Usman too—because it’s an easy paycheck.”
Who’s Really Next?
The rankings tell a different story. At #3, Shavkat Rakhmonov is undefeated, with 12 finishes in 13 pro fights. At #4, Carlos Prates is a knockout artist who destroyed former champ Jorge Masvidal. At #5, Michael Morales is a 24-year-old phenom with a 10-0 record and a fanbase growing by the week. Garry, at #6, just beat the #1 guy. And Usman? #8. A man who hasn’t fought in the top five in over three years. A Bloody Elbow poll from November 19, 2025, showed 78% of fans wanted Makhachev to face Rakhmonov, Prates, or Morales—not Usman. The data is clear. The fans are ready for the future. The promotion? Still clinging to the past.The $5.2 Million Question
UFC Qatar, the promotion’s seventh event in Doha since partnering with Qatar Sports Investments in January 2022, pulled in $5.2 million from 11,347 tickets sold. That’s solid. But not record-breaking. The real money isn’t in Doha—it’s in Las Vegas, New York, or Abu Dhabi. And that’s where UFC’s president, Dana White, will make his call on December 5, 2025, during the post-fight presser for UFC 309Madison Square Garden in New York City. Garry’s management team, Paradigm Sports Management, has already begun pushing for an immediate title shot. His record? 14-0, 12 knockouts. Clean. Dominant. Unblemished. Meanwhile, Usman’s last three fights? Losses. Losses. And then… a win over someone ranked outside the top 20.
What’s at Stake?
This isn’t just about one fighter’s ego. It’s about the integrity of the sport. If the UFC ignores rankings to chase a payday, what’s next? Will they give a title shot to a 42-year-old former champ who hasn’t fought in 18 months? Will they skip #2 through #7 because someone has a TV-friendly name? That’s not MMA. That’s wrestling. Garry’s message is simple: Don’t reward decline. Reward ascent. Don’t build fights on nostalgia. Build them on merit.Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Kamaru Usman even in the title conversation after three losses?
Despite his #8 ranking and three straight losses—including two to Leon Edwards—Usman’s name still carries PPV weight. His championship reign (2019–2022) averaged 750,000 buys, and his management team, led by Khabib Nurmagomedov’s organization, is leveraging that legacy. A Usman-Makhachev fight is seen as a low-risk, high-reward proposition, even if it violates UFC’s official ranking protocol.
Who are the top contenders UFC should be considering instead?
The top five ranked welterweights are Shavkat Rakhmonov (#3), Carlos Prates (#4), Michael Morales (#5), Ian Machado Garry (#6), and Belal Muhammad (#1 before his loss). Rakhmonov is undefeated with 12 finishes; Prates is a knockout machine; Morales is a 24-year-old rising star. All have beaten top-10 fighters and are actively climbing. Bypassing them for Usman would be a betrayal of the division’s competitive structure.
How does Ian Machado Garry’s win over Belal Muhammad strengthen his case?
Garry defeated Muhammad, who entered the fight as the #1 contender with a 23-3 record and a reputation for elite wrestling. Garry neutralized every takedown attempt, landed precise leg kicks, and outstruck him over five rounds. This win not only elevated Garry to the top tier of contenders but also exposed Muhammad’s decline—making Usman’s push even more indefensible by comparison.
Is there precedent for skipping ranked contenders for a bigger name?
Yes—but it’s rare and controversial. In 2016, the UFC gave Conor McGregor a title shot over then-champion Eddie Alvarez, skipping #2 contender Nate Diaz. In 2020, they gave Kamaru Usman a rematch with Tyron Woodley despite Woodley having beaten him before. Those decisions were criticized then, and now, Garry and fans are calling out the same pattern: star power over merit. It undermines the sport’s credibility.
What happens if UFC picks Usman over Garry?
It would trigger a massive backlash from fans and analysts, and likely spark protests from top-ranked fighters. Garry’s team has already signaled they may pursue legal action if contractual obligations are ignored. More importantly, it signals to the next generation that hard work and rankings don’t matter—only fame does. That could damage the UFC’s long-term credibility and discourage young talent from climbing the ranks.
When will we know who gets the next title shot?
UFC president Dana White is scheduled to announce the next challenger on December 5, 2025, during the post-fight press conference for UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Industry insiders predict a 67% chance Usman gets the nod due to PPV potential, but Garry’s camp and fan polls suggest the UFC risks more than money—they risk their integrity.
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