On April 26, Ian Machado Garry will try to return to the profit column when he is confronted with a rising good weight candidate.
The Irishman has proven in the past that he is willing to take on the biggest challenges that are available after he had accepted his fight in Kansas City before he knew who the opponent was.
This Saturday 'The Future' sees the Brazilian Carlos Prates in a collision of two of the most exciting strikers of the division that have recently revived in the rankings.
Garry has been criticized in the past with regard to his current status in the division, but he has been focusing on the top names for a while.
The 27-year-old has not been able to secure a matchup with one of the former champions that are still around 170 pounds and he now believes they are being replaced.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC
Ian Machado Garry Blasts Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington, says they are being replaced
In 2024, Ian Machado Garry was very pronounced about wanting to fight against Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington, who are still big names in the division that have high rankings despite their recent form.
Neither of the man would sign on the dotted line that eventually led him to the Michael 'Venom' page on UFC 303 before he entered the late notification to accept Shavkat Rakhmonov last December.
While the old guard is still in the area, the will of Machado Garry and Carlos Prates represent the new Gulf of Topwelterweights that are starting to fill in the top 15.
Prior to his return to Kansas City, the Irishman spoke about this during a recent interview with Shakiel Mahjouri, where he criticized the veterans of the division because he tried to stay relevant without compromising.
“We're going to get off with the old one and with the new one. We come from these people who just try to stay relevant such as Kamaru and Colby, just try to keep relevance by just talking on podcasts and trying to succeed Paddy Pimblett. That's all they are now. They don't want to fight. They are no longer hunters, they are ready.
Although he does not place them in the same box as Usman and Covington, Machado Garry also mentioned various other top names that may get older from the top of the division with new names that take their places.
“You have people like Leon (Edwards), and I f— – hate to say this, but Gilbert (Burns), who has not had the best run lately, and you have these young, hungry murderers who come up. These guys, they will be nearby for a long time.
The new era of Welterweight is already underway
If you look at the top 10 of the Welterweight Division, five of the best contenders are what you would consider as the new era of Elite mixed war artists.
Where Ian Machado Garry has become frustrated in the past, it is that for many of them they have to beat one of the old guard to really make this case.
Whether it is Joaquin Buckley who stops Colby Covington, Jack della Maddalena who submitted Gilbert Burns Rally of Sean Brady who submitted Leon Edwards, all three were explanations, but for whatever reason these matchups 'The Future' have escaped.
Carlos Prates is another name looking for that group, so although he may not have been the biggest name that Machado Garry could have been linked with, it is a victory that will probably get older with both men who are in the ranking for many years to come.