Ian Machado Garry is already plotting for his next UFC title shot.
Machado Garry (17-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) fell short against welterweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 330 last month. The Irishman has taken on the division's sternest tests from Carlos Prates to Shavkat Rakhmonov and is now going after another top contender.
Makhachev (29-1 MMA, 18-1 UFC) expects his next title defense to come against Prates, and Machado Garry believes a fight with Michael Morales (19-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) could re-gain him the No. 1. contender spot.
"For me, there's only one fight that makes sense right now, and that's Michael Morales," Machado Garry said in an interview with Eze Talks Sports. "When I beat him, I'm the only one who deserves a title shot – even though me and Islam
have just fought. Whether Islam wins, whether Carlos Prates wins the next fight, it's two massive rematches. So I go out there, and I finish Michael Morales, get my hand raised, it's undeniable that I'm right back up there for the title shot."
Undefeated Morales hasn't competed since finishing Sean Brady by first-round TKO at UFC 322 last November. Machado Garry spoke about the potential matchup.
"He's long, he's tall, he's confident, and he should be," Machado Garry said. "I think it's a phenomenal fight. Two of the best strikers on the planet, two of the best fighters on the planet going head to head with the task being fighting the best in the world, going again for that belt. So it's a tough matchup; it's a very dangerous matchup (against) a guy who's got a lot of confidence, a lot of trust in his power, but I fought very, very good fighters. I'm afraid of no man walking this planet, and I'll step in with anyone in that octagon and beat them."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Ian Machado Garry sees 'only one fight that makes sense' following UFC title loss
