Top UFC welterweight contender welcomes Islam Makhachev's move up: “He's the perfect example of the new evolution of fighters”

Islam Makhachev’s talk of moving up to the welterweight division has created new waves of speculation amongst the welterweight top contenders of the UFC. The news came amidst the recent callout for a lightweight title bout by Ilia Topuria, following the fighter’s move up from featherweight to lightweight. Ahead of the highly anticipated bout at UFC Kansas City scheduled for April 26, 2025, welterweighttop contender Ian Machado Garry talked about La Leyenda’s possible shift from lightweight to the welterweight division.
With an MMA stat of 15-1-0, Ian Machado Garry has established himself as one of the top fighters out there for a title run in the welterweight division. The fighter's first-ever career loss came from Shavkat Rakhmonov by a unanimous decision. The Future is now in a position to redeem himself and put himself back on the line for a title bout with the upcoming UFC Kansas City fight on April 26.
On the contrary, the lightweight division of the promotion has witnessed the addition of Ilia Topuria after he vacated the featherweight title in February 2025. The division is on the verge of witnessing another major shakeup with Islam Makhachev dodging Topuria’s callout for a title bout and instead expressing his desire to move up to the welterweight division.
In a recent interview with SHAK MMA, Garry was asked about these recent transitions and his opinion on the current state of the welterweight division, to which the fighter seemed positive about the upcoming shakeups.
“It’s finally f*cking moving again. It’s finally moving. We are getting like out with old and in with the new. We are getting rid of these people who are just trying to stay relevant. Like Kamaru and Colby, who are just trying to maintain their relevancy by talking on podcasts and trying to slag of Paddy Pimblett. That’s all they are now, they don’t want to fight. They are not fighters anymore.”
Garry went on to mention the names of the young fighters of the division who are willing to put up a fierce show inside the Octagon and who will be staying around for quite a while now.
“You have got people like Leon and I f*cking hate to say this but Gilbert, who haven’t had the best run lately. And you have got these young hungry killers coming up in the likes of me, Prates, Morales, Sean Brady, Shavkat, Jack and you are just seeing what the welterweight division is turning into for the next decade. Because these guys are going to be around for a long time.”

The fighter even, went on to express his thoughts on Makhachev’s possible move up to the division, “He can jump the queue if he wants to, he’s Islam Makhachev, he’s the pound-for-pound number one. You’ve gotta give respect when respect is due. And if that man turns up and says ‘I want to be next’, I think everyone in the welterweight division gives the ‘OK’. And I think if you try to argue that, you don’t have respect for the greatest in the world.” Garry further added, “I think he’s an absolute disaster for everyone in the division if he comes up and doesn’t have to cut weight…he’s the perfect example of the new evolution of fighters, great everywhere. You look at Khabib, and Khabib was dominant at grappling. Islam is the exact same, but probably more clean when it comes to his grappling…and when you look at Islam on the feet, he can crack. I think he makes the welterweight division even more fun, and I would love to test myself against him.”
Also read: Former UFC flyweight prospect sentenced to 15 years and 5 months in jail after pleading guilty to firearms and drug trafficking accusations
The UFC has kept the fans of the sport on the edge with Makhachev’s and Topuria’s respective bouts yet to be announced. With so many changes across the divisions, predicting the next possible fight for the athletes has become quite difficult. However, speculations are being made that the results of UFC 315 between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena will play a major role in deciding the next opponent for Makhachev.