While Ian Machado Garry failed to dethrone Islam Makhachev at UFC 330, the Irishman still put up a tough fight. “The Future” busted the Dagestani open and managed to find success against his grappling as the fight progressed. However, Garry ultimately fell short, with the judges scoring the bout 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47 in Makhachev’s favor.
The victory extended Makhachev’s win streak to 17 and handed Garry just the second loss of his MMA and UFC career. With the Dagestani now seemingly on course to defend his welterweight title against Carlos Prates later this year, the big question is what comes next for Garry.
It appears the Irishman already has an answer. Garry is eager to get back into title contention and believes Michael Morales should be his next opponent.
Speaking to Eze Talks Sports, he said, “For me, there’s only one fight that makes sense right now, and that’s Michael Morales. When I beat him, I’m the only one who deserves a title shot, even though me and Islam have just fought.”
Garry added, “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. So that’s what I think needs to be next.”
👀🔥 Ian Garry wants Michael Morales next, vows to finish him to claim another title shot:
“For me there’s only one fight that makes sense right now, and that’s Michael Morales, when I beat him I’m the only one who deserves a title shot.
I go out there and I finish Michael… pic.twitter.com/UbO9hbyQS2
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) September 8, 2026
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Garry has never been one to shy away from tough matchups at welterweight, and he has consistently taken on some of the division’s biggest names to work his way toward the top. He is now 8-2 inside the Octagon, with his only UFC losses coming against Shavkat Rakhmonov and Makhachev.
Along the way, Garry has picked up wins over the likes of Prates, Belal Muhammad, and Michael “Venom” Page. A matchup with Morales also makes plenty of sense, considering the undefeated contender was in the mix to face Makhachev himself.
Morales served as the backup fighter for UFC 330 but ultimately didn’t get the call. He also hasn’t fought since knocking out Sean Brady in the first round last November, a win that pushed his record to 19-0, including a perfect 7-0 run in the UFC.
Ian Machado Garry and Michael Morales exchange words after UFC 330
Garry – “All the s**t you talk it’s ok, just make sure you back it up. I don’t know what story you made up about meeting me, I’ve never encountered that. You’re a good fighter, show up, keep winning” pic.twitter.com/iszfWF291G
— FULL SEND MMA (@full_send_mma) August 16, 2026
A win over Morales would undoubtedly strengthen Garry’s case for another title shot. However, the Irishman hasn’t exactly received rave reviews following his loss to Makhachev.
Despite one judge scoring the fight 48-47 for Garry, Dana White criticised Garry for hugging Makhachev, accusing him of showing too much respect and lacking the killer instinct needed to beat the champion.
With Garry’s stock taking a slight hit after all the hugging and high-fiving with Makhachev, along with his partnership with Eddie Hearn, the 28-year-old now has a chance to silence the doubters. A statement win over Morales could be exactly what Garry needs to put himself right back into the title picture.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
