Morning Report | Islam Makhachev ranks the top welterweight contenders, believes Ian Machado Garry w
Islam Makhachev thinks Ian Machado Garry is the next welterweight champion; it just won’t happen for awhile.
In August, Makhachev fought Garry in the main event of UFC 330, defending his welterweight title for the first time. This fight was not exactly a barn-burner, but Garry pushed Makhachev to the limits, forcing the champion to eke out a decision win.
The win was Makhachev’s 17th in a row inside the UFC, breaking the record previously held by Anderson Silva, and afterward, Makhachev restated his intent to push the streak to 20 consecutive wins. And Makhachev rates his possible future opponents for those fights — Carlos Prates, Michael Morales, and Shavkat Rakhmonov — all equally.
“Honestly, I put [Prates, Morales and Rakhmonov] all on the same level,” Makhachev told Ushatayka. “Prates has striking power, he’s dangerous. Morales is very big, and he’s dangerous in wrestling and striking. And Shavkat is a very serious opponent in terms of his skills as a fighter.”
The welterweight champion also dismissed another rising contender, former Bellator champion Yaroslav Amosov, and said that he believes Garry is actually the most dangerous fighter at 170, saying that “The Future” will become champion once he leaves the sport.
“I don’t think [Amosov] is a dangerous opponent,” Makhachev said. “I saw the fight where someone shut down his wrestling, and look what happened. I don’t consider him a dangerous fighter at all.
“I think one of the most dangerous and serious opponents was my last fight with Ian Garry. And I think he’ll become champion after I’m leave. He’s young. I think he still has time.”
For now, Garry will have to wait, but he’s already angling for a fight with one of Makhachev’s possible opponents, Michael Morales. Makhachev, meanwhile, has made it clear he’d like to add another title defense before Ramadan, which begins in February, with the most likely challenger being Carlos Prates.
TOP STORIES
Performance. Ryan Garcia demolishes Conor Benn inside 2 rounds, calls out Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haney.
Denial. Dana White denies preventing Oscar De La Hoya from attending Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn event.
Beef. Conor McGregor rips Max Holloway for calling on ref to stop UFC 329 fight: ‘Finish the f****** fight!’
Realist. Arman Tsarukyan in do-or-die situation at UFC 331: ‘If I lose this fight, I’m never going to see a title fight.’
Layoff. Khamzat Chimaev says if he doesn’t get a fight by December, he’s taking time off: ‘I have a lot of injuries.’
Memory. Jean Silva reveals has no memory of loss to Diego Lopes at Noche UFC last year.
Sure. Coach defends Ian Machado Garry for hugging Islam Makhachev at UFC 330, confident in rematch.
Solidarity. Henry Cejudo: Tom Aspinall ‘needs to vacate or be stripped at this point.’
VIDEO STEW
Noche UFC Post Show.
Dana White after Zuffa.
Ryan Garcia after Zuffa.
Every finish from Noche UFC.
UFC 331 Countdown.
Max Holloway surfing.
FLAVOR IN YOUR EAR
On To The Next One.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
This is the one.
Respect.
Max trolled to Conor.
He’s trying.
Kevin Holland showing love.
Joanna got moves.
FEED ME MORE
See, Ronshow gets it.
FINAL THOUGHTS
When he’s not being weird as hell or a total psycho (and sometimes when he is being both of those things) Jean Silva is pretty good.
EXIT POLL
If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @AlexanderKLee or @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let us know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Twitch, and like us on Facebook.