Last Saturday, Ian Machado Garry suffered the first defeat of his career in the UFC 310 co-main event when he was defeated over five rounds by undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov.
After Belal Muhammad pulled out of the UFC 310 main event against Shavkat Rakhmonov, undefeated Ian Machado Garry decided to step in on just three weeks' notice to take on the Kazakhs.
Unfortunately for 'The Future', he suffered the first defeat of his career after a tough and extremely contentious five rounds, missing out on the welterweight title for the time being.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Chael Sonnen backs Ian Machado Garry despite first career loss
Although Machado Garry suffered the first loss of his career, he has come out of the weekend without losing any stock considering his performance against one of the most dangerous fighters on the roster.
Going into his first five-round fight, it was widely believed that the 27-year-old might ultimately struggle in the defensive wrestling department, and that 'The Nomad' would dominate him on the ground.
However, the Irishman stopped eight of Rakhmonov's 10 takedown attempts, demonstrating his versatile ability to keep the fight going.
One person who agrees that Machado Garry hasn't lost any stock despite his loss is UFC legend Chael Sonnen.
Since retiring from the sport, Sonnen has remained a fan favorite with his ever-growing YouTube channel and his analytical work for ESPN.
“Ian Garry did some things physically extremely well. Every time Rakhmonov closed the gap and got his hands on Garry, Garry went backwards,” Sonnen began to explain on his YouTube channel.
“It was a big deal (Saturday night) and Ian Garry won in several categories. Rakhmonov has never lost a position, you can't say that anymore. Rakhmonov has never lost a round, I don't know who those judges gave the fifth round to, I couldn't hear it, I bet they gave it to Garry I think (he won it),” he continued.
The Irishman did indeed win the third round on all three judges' scorecards and came extremely close to finishing the fight when he was seemingly locked in a rear choke, making him the closest to winning the fight of the two.
“Ian Garry did what no other man could do, plus 70%. That's very impressive. I'm campaigning for Ian Garry,” Sonnen said.
Sonnen believes Colby Covington could find himself in an interim title fight against Rakhmonov
Despite facing Belal and Rakhmonov after the UFC 310 co-main event, Sonnen believes an interim title fight could be introduced, with Muhammad downplaying his injury.
“Belal has a life-threatening infection in his leg. Belal shouldn't have been there tonight. Belal is too tough and brave to tell you that, but that's what he has to deal with. He can't do 50 push-ups right now.
“That fight will probably be postponed and we'll see if we even get to that fight,” Sonnen claimed.
This Saturday, however, former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington will return after more than a year away from the Octagon, to take on Joaquin Buckley.
Sonnen has urged fans not to be 'stunned' if Covington returns to winning ways and finds himself in an interim title fight against the undefeated Kazakh.
“Don't be dismayed if Colby rolls by Buckley and Colby finds himself in a fight against Rakhmonov for an interim championship, I'm just sharing that, don't be dismayed. But what do you do with Gary? Garry won tonight, for me, his stock went up tonight, for me,” Sonnen continued.
The UFC Hall of Famer suggested the Irishman should fight former champion Leon Edwards in the main event of UFC London next March.
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