Ian Machado Garry spent the higher a part of the previous yr making an attempt to land a struggle towards Colby Covington, however regardless of his greatest efforts, the matchup by no means got here collectively.
Whereas the undefeated Irish welterweight says that it’s a struggle the UFC wished, Garry claims that Covington ducked, dodged, and did nearly all the pieces potential to keep away from him. That perception was solely additional strengthened after he bought pulled from the UFC Tampa primary occasion to face Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 after which Covington instantly changed him in a struggle towards Joaquin Buckley.
“He simply magically f*cking reappeared out of skinny air!” Garry mentioned throughout UFC 310 media day. “Simply got here out of nowhere, didn’t he? ‘Oh yeah, I’ll do it!’ It simply reveals he’s a coward. It proves that he by no means, ever, ever wished to struggle me within the first place.
“He’s the right instance of somebody who’s making an attempt to remain related by speaking about me, Shavkat, he even talked about Charles [Oliveira] at one level as a result of he was getting all of the media consideration. He talks out of his ass and he’s not prepared to again it up.”
Even earlier than he was requested about Covington, Garry already unleashed on fighters on the UFC roster who’re supplied matchups however then flip it down for no matter motive.
In his thoughts, there shouldn’t be an choice.
Garry believes if the UFC comes calling with an opponent, each fighter ought to settle for or get sidelined till they’re prepared to just accept the matchup initially supplied to them.
“All these individuals speak to remain related, to maintain some relevancy within the division or preserve their spot however individuals are far too selective on this sport and I believe one thing must be modified about it,” Garry mentioned. “It ought to be you struggle this man otherwise you don’t struggle in any respect.
“As a result of it’s ridiculous to have these individuals speak the speak however not truly again it up. This weekend is proof that I mentioned I’d do it and I’m backing it up and Shavkat’s the identical.”
A former coaching accomplice when each had been figuring out of Kill Cliff FC in Florida, Garry had nothing however reward for Rakhmonov regardless of some pre-fight trash speak that has added a brand new aspect to their co-main occasion showdown on Saturday.
Within the days main as much as the struggle, Rakhmonov proudly proclaimed that he truly tapped out his upcoming opponent with a submission throughout a sparring session that Garry’s spouse was filming. Rahkmonov implored them to launch the footage as an apparent jab about who was higher once they had been coaching collectively.
In response, Garry didn’t deny what occurred however he additionally scoffed on the suggestion that any coaching session, particularly one which occurred a number of years in the past, has any impression on the upcoming struggle at UFC 310.
“If he needs to latch onto a second of success in coaching from two years in the past, and thinks I’m the identical fighter I used to be then, then he could be sadly mistaken,” Garry mentioned. “I don’t consider he’s going to be latching onto something like that.
“I consider he’s being trustworthy. He’s saying this occurred, which it did. I’m not turning round and saying it didn’t. But when I sit right here and inform you the f*cking names I’ve crushed sparring, it’s simply not related. It will be a really completely different dialog. He has to do it Saturday night time. I’m going to go on the market, and I’m going to indicate him that I’m much better than he may ever think about.”
Assuming all goes effectively and he’s nonetheless undefeated after going through Rakhmonov this weekend, Garry already has his sights set on a future struggle towards UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in 2025.
There’s no extra detours after this win and Garry is blissful to maintain his give attention to opponents who truly wish to struggle him fairly than someone like Covington, who he guarantees by no means would.
“He would by no means, ever, ever in 1,000,000 years step into that octagon with me and face his fears,” Garry mentioned about Covington. “As a result of I’m the person he fears probably the most.”
