Ian Machado Garry is looking elsewhere after failing to secure a fight with rival welterweight Colby Covington.
The unbeaten Irishman has vocally pursued a bout opposite three-time world title challenger Covington on this summer’s UFC 303 card to be headlined by the return of Conor McGregor against former Bellator champ Michael Chandler. However, more recently Machado Garry appears to have arrived at the conclusion that Covington is unmoved by the potential contest, with the American recently indicating that he is pursuing a fight with lightweight Charles Oliveira.
Machado Garry, who defeated Geoff Neal by split decision in his last outing in February, has since expressed frustration with the 170-pound logjam, given that there is no one ranked above him currently available to fight — potentially forcing him to look elsewhere for his next challenge.
“I’m sick of this ranking stuff,” Machado Garry said in an interview with talkSPORT, as noted by Bloody Elbow. “I’m in a position where everyone above me is injured and then Leon and Belal are facing off against each other.
“I have no interest in fighting anyone below me but I’m kind of in a position where I have no choice other than to wait, and the last thing I want to do is wait. Anyone that is willing to stand across the Octagon from me on June 29th can get their ass whooped.”
As such, the Dubliner says he may have to change his approach if he is to participate on the McGregor comeback card next month.
“I can only fight down in the rankings, and this is where I’ve got to show that I will fight anyone,” he said, adding that former Bellator standout Michael ‘Venom’ Page is one name proposed by UFC matchmakers. “I’ve said yes. I’ve said yes to that name, him and his coaches are deciding because he seems a bit heavy to make weight in seven weeks’ time, but I’ve said yes.”
Machado Garry also indicated that he has also agreed to face other welterweights Sean Brady, Joaquin Buckley and the experienced Uzbek Nursulton Ruziboez.
But while the potential of missing out on his desired fight against Colby Covington is a disappointment, sharing a card with McGregor will be some significant commiseration.
“To fight and compete on the same night as him, watch him go out and do his thing, hear his walkout, sit side by side with him at the press conference, and just be grateful to be in the presence of the greatest to ever do it in the UFC — it would be a feather in the cap for sure,” he said.
