Why Shavkat Rakhmonov not sold on Ian Machado Garry as No. 1 contender

MMA math isn't Shavkat Rakhmonov's only argument as to why Ian Machado Garry doesn't deserve a title shot.

Machado Garry (17-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) is campaigning for a shot at welterweight champion Islam Makhachev after outworking ex-champ Belal Muhammad at UFC Fight Night 265 this month. Prior to that, Machado Garry defeated top contender Carlos Prates.

Rakhmonov (19-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) hasn't competed since handing Machado Garry his first-career loss at UFC 310 in December 2024. He plans on making long-awaited return early next year, but Machado Garry says Rakhmonov has no business being in the title picture.

"I don't believe a word of that," Machado Garry told "The Ariel Helwani Show" on Rakhmonov returning in January. "But also, the sport is moving fast. This man has to get back in there soon. So, when you've got someone like me, who had a very tough and close fight with that man, he won the opportunity to fight for the title. Due to the fight with me, he has been out injured and has not been able to be active whilst I've ranked up a win against the current No. 5 in the world and the No. 1 in the world in Belal Muhammad.

"So, with all due respect to Shavkat, and I have nothing but respect for him, let's talk about him when he's actually back because he's not right now. So in my mind, he's just trying to maintain relevance by showing up at these fights and being in the picture and saying he's going to be back. But, he's not back. I'm here and I'm ready, and the best ability is availability. And I bust up that knee so bad that night that he's had two knee surgeries on it since then. One of them failed, and this one? Let's see, it's still new."

Rakhmonov fired back at Machado Garry, and doesn't think his resume warrants No. 1 status.

"No trash talk, just facts: Ian Garry lost to me while I was injured. He hasn’t finished anyone in his last six fights, and Prates nearly stopped him. Doesn’t sound like a #1 contender to me."

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Shavkat Rakhmonov dismisses Ian Machado Garry as No. 1 contender