Islam Makhachev’s manager explains why they don’t want Ian Machado Garry fight

Islam Makhachev’s manager Ali Abdelaziz has explained why a possible Ian Machado Garry fight isn’t their number one pick.

For the longest time now, Ian Machado Garry has been viewed as a rising star in the UFC’s welterweight division. Alas, he hasn’t quite been able to climb up to the championship level yet, even though he is clearly talented enough to go against some of the very best at 170 pounds.

RELATED: Ex-UFC star Jorge Masvidal roasts Ian Machado Garry for comments on Kamaru Usman

Islam Makhachev, meanwhile, is the reigning UFC welterweight champion. It’s not clear as to who exactly he’s going to face in his next fight after winning the belt, but you’d have to imagine Machado Garry is at least part of the conversation.

In a recent interview, though, Ali Abdelaziz explained why the Makhachev camp may not be too enthralled by the idea of taking on Machado Garry.

Makhachev’s manager discusses Machado Garry

“(Makhachev and Usman) want to fight each other, but UFC might have a different plan. But that’s what I think. Maybe they think differently. But don’t tell me Ian Garry, he’s the guy people are jumping over,” Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie. “I have no problem with him. He just lost to Shavkat, and he was almost finished by Prates. It’s not like a guy who’s going to sell out an arena or something like that. If he’s going to sell out the arena, why don’t you make him and Belal the event in Qatar? You made Arman (Tsarukyan) and Dan Hooker? Neither of these guys are former champions. The math doesn’t add up for me.

“I asked one guy very high up in the UFC, I’m not going to say who, but I had to ask him if he thinks Ian Garry, coming from nine out of 10 fights by decision, is he an exciting fighter? He’s like, ‘No, he’s boring,'” Abdelaziz said.

“Listen, if you compare Kamaru Usman to Ian Garry or any of these other guys, Kamaru Usman is the toughest matchup. I’ve trained with both guys, and I’m telling you Kamaru Usman is the toughest matchup because I don’t think Islam is going to take him down and do what he does to other guys. He’s going to have to strike with him, and it’s going to be a war. For Islam’s legacy, Kamaru is the former pound-for-pound No. 1 guy in the world. And his name value.”

Quotes via MMA Junkie

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