Ian Machado Garry doesn’t buy into the reports that Islam Makhachev is injured and can’t fight.
Makhachev’s health status is at the heart of a number of conspiracy theories at the moment, the main one being a fight with Ilia Topuria at the White House that may or may not have been the UFC’s original plan for ‘Freedom 250.’
UFC CEO Dana White denies that was the case, and insists Islam has an injured hand. But Garry — who was rumored to be next for Makhachev before the White House talk picked up — doesn’t
buy it.
“Yeah, I heard that too,” Garry said of the injury in a new social media post. “But I don’t believe it. I don’t know what to believe. I can’t imagine he hurt his hand in the last fight with Jack. So maybe he did it while horse riding? I don’t believe it. I think it’s just excuses.”
“Everything about me now tells me he doesn’t want to fight, doesn’t want to fight, doesn’t want to fight,” he continued. “I don’t know if it’s mentally, physically, whatever. He’s doing the typical thing that all champions do when they get the belt. They try and maintain their position, maintain relevancy by not fighting and staying inactive.”
“When I fight, that all changes.”
This is a growing narrative amongst fighters — that their chosen opponent doesn’t want to fight because they’re happy camping their spot and just want to keep milking the status and opportunities that come with being a contender or champion in the UFC. We prefer the old school accusation: that UFC didn’t offer to pay enough money for Islam to look past a minor injury to fight. That sounds just as likely, even if there’s nothing to the accusation but some speculation that kinda sorta sounds like it could be true.
Garry’s just upset because he’s stuck waiting around for a meaningful fight at welterweight, a division that is infamous for top fighters camping their spot and not competing. Is that what Islam Makhachev is doing? Or is this just a garden variety injury delaying his return by a month or two? Hopefully something gets booked soon, as Mak is on the very long list of top names sitting on the shelf for the first half of 2026.
