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Islam Makhachev doesn't have a chance standing with Ian Machado Garry, claims No. 1 contender: "I have to see him unconscious"

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3 months ago

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Islam Makhachev doesn't have a chance standing with Ian Machado Garry, claims No. 1 contender: "I have to see him unconscious"
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Arman Tsarukyan vs. Charles Oliveira 2 cancelled as Tsarukyan set for new UFC 331 fight
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Ian Machado Garry believes he will show the world that his striking is worlds above Islam Makhachev's.

Garry is the planned challenger for Makhachev's welterweight title, and the two are scheduled to clash with the gold at stake in the UFC 330 main event on Aug. 15. The Irishman will be the underdog entering the biggest bout of his career with the top pound-for-pound fighter in MMA today.

That doesn't mean “The Future's†confidence has wavered in any way. During the countdown show for UFC 330, Garry was adamant that his striking will be a nightmare for the 170-pound champion, and he's itching to get a definitive knockout.

“Islam's never fought anybody as long and tall as I am,†Garry said. “Let alone somebody who moves the way I move. He doesn't have a chance against me on the feet, and I need to see him unconscious. There's no excuses when I beat him.â€

Makhachev had something to say about Garry's bravado, and he's sure that the contender will leave Philadelphia empty-handed.

“Everybody say before the fight, ‘I'm gonna knock him out. I'm gonna finish Islam. I'm gonna stop his wrestling,' but it's not working,†Makhachev responded. “I'm gonna do whatever I want and finish him. I'm the best fighter in the world, and I'm gonna show it in Philadelphia.â€

Garry has been pushing the idea that he will put Makhachev to sleep, which would be just the second time in the champion's career. If “The Future†is to make good on his word, he'll need to score his first finish since 2023. Garry's last six fights have gone the distance, but he feels he's facing the surefire future Hall of Famer at the perfect time.

The aforementioned lone defeat in Makhachev's career occurred all the way back in 2015, and he's been as close to flawless as one could ask since that time. Having won gold in two weight classes, Makhachev wants to continue adding to his legacy with a successful welterweight title defense on his resume.

Does Ian Machado Garry have a big advantage on the feet, or will Islam Makhachev have his number there? Drop a comment below.

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM

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Morning Report | Alexander Volkanovski lists two fights he’d like if Justin Gaethje fight can’t happen

Published

9 hours ago

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October 29, 2026

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Morning Report | Alexander Volkanovski lists two fights he’d like if Justin Gaethje fight can’t happen

If the UFC and the fans aren't into the idea of Alexander Volkanovski fighting Justin Gaethje, he has some other ideas.

This past weekend, Volkanovski added another title defense to his featherweight résumé, stopping Movsar Evloev in the second round of the UFC 333 main event. After the win, Volkanovski campaigned for a double retirement fight with lightweight champion Justin Gaethje. Volkanovski's pitch has been met with a mixed reception, with some fans into the idea, while others wonder about Arman Tsarukyan, the presumptive next title challenger at 155 pounds.

Speaking with Ariel Helwani on Wednesday, Volkanovski agreed about Tsarukyan, and so he pitched another possible scenario.

â€I do believe Arman should be fighting for the title,†Volkanovski said. “If I was in the lightweight division, and I was the champion, I'm fighting Arman, 100 percent. If Gaethje doesn't want to do that, I'll do it. That excites me.

“You've got Ilia [Topuria] and Paddy [Pimblett] that are in a great position, but that's a great fight [between them]. So if you needed a title fight, Arman and myself. I think that's great. Can we do that?â€

â€Arman's a great fighter,†Volkanovski continued. “I would absolutely love that. Everyone knows how I do against wrestlers. Everyone knows I can handle wrestlers. I believe that even as good as Arman is, I think he's one of the best wrestlers and grapplers in the UFC — you ain't holding me down. Even Arman.

“I've got so much respect for him, but I'm getting back up, and we're standing and fighting. But he's got good standup, so that'll be a fun fight.â€

Volkanovski even teased that if he does get a lightweight title shot next, he's also willing to stick around, if that's what the UFC wants.

“I'll vacate the featherweight belt; fight Arman for the title,†Volkanovski said. “There it is. I'm starting to get more excited for that than the Gaethje fight. …

“I'll talk to the UFC, and I'll be, ‘I'll do this, I'll vacate. I'll do the lightweight thing.' If you want me out of the picture after this because you just, look, ‘We'll give you that chance, and then you vacate, win, lose, or draw.' But if people don't like that idea, and the UFC don't like that idea, then alright. We'll go again.â€

Of course, this all hinges on Gaethje, who has yet to make a decision about his future in the sport. The lightweight champion is still healing injuries from his win over Ilia Topuria at UFC White House, and has said he expects to talk with his family about whether or not he will retire in the coming months. If Gaethje does decide to stick around and defend his belt against Tsarukyan, then Volkanovski says there's one particular opponent he feels is most deserving at 145 pounds.

“I believe if Aljamain [Sterling] wins another fight, I feel like Aljamain deserves it more [than Jean Silva],†Volkanovski said. “When we're talking deserves it more, I'm going to say ‘Aljo.' Aljo deserves it more. But who do I think's next? They're both worthy competitors, and they're both in a position where they'll probably go. But who do I think deserves it more? I think Aljamain, especially after another win, taking a fight against a dangerous guy like Kevin. …

“It is up to that fight, I believe. Silva's in a great position. I think he just needs to wait and see what happens with Aljo.â€

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Dialed. Also, Gaethje has a real old-man swing.

Who said money can't buy happiness?

This is real GOAT behavior — getting weird.

If Gaethje retires, Arman vs. Volk would be OK. Still kinda shitty for actual lightweights putting together meaningful wins in the division, but it would no longer be a huge miscarriage of justice.

Or Volk could just bail on 145 and go up and fight any ‘55er and earn a title fight. That would also be fine.

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, and like us on Facebook.

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Javid Basharat says brother learned of UFC exit with everyone else

Published

10 hours ago

on

October 29, 2026

By

Javid Basharat says brother learned of UFC exit with everyone else
Javid
Basharat has defended his brother following the latter's

Ultimate Fighting Championship departure.

Farid
Basharat (16-0) completed his contract and wasn't offered a new
deal despite going 7-0 in the promotion, prompting debate about
recent roster decisions. Javid, whose UFC contract was not renewed
in February, rejected CEO Dana
White's suggestion that difficulties with matchmakers or
declined fights could explain his brother's departure.

Javid Basharat says Farid waited three months without UFC
contract talks and never refused fights

White was asked about Farid's departure at the
UFC Edmonton postfight press conference. He suggested there
were reasons beyond Farid's results for the decision not to renew
his contract but did not identify a specific incident.

Farid responded on his Instagram Stories.

“A lot of assumptions made, but no facts were said,†Farid wrote.
“I definitely wasn't turning down fights.â€

Javid echoed his brother's response, saying they had not discussed
a contract renewal with the promotion.

“I can vouch that no fights were turned down nor were we hard to
deal with as a matter of fact we have never had a conversation with
regard to renewing the contract,†Javid wrote. “We patiently waited
3 months and we found out when everyone else found out!â€

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Muhammad Mokaev blames TKO & Paramount, not Dana White, for UFC exits

Published

22 hours ago

on

October 28, 2026

By

Muhammad Mokaev blames TKO & Paramount, not Dana White, for UFC exits
Muhammad
Mokaev blames TKO and Paramount for recent
Ultimate Fighting Championship roster decisions rather than CEO
Dana
White.

The UFC has faced criticism for declining to renew contracts for
fighters on winning streaks. Mokaev, who left the promotion under
similar circumstances, believes its parent company and broadcast
partner are responsible for the recent departures.

Muhammad Mokaev rejects Dana White’s explanation after Farid
Basharat’s UFC departure

Mokaev left the UFC more than two years ago. More recently,
Michael
Page and Farid
Basharat were not offered new deals despite promotional records
of 5-1 and 7-0, respectively. White's comments about Basharat's
departure prompted Mokaev's response.

At the
UFC Edmonton postfight news conference, White suggested that
difficulties with matchmakers or declined fights could explain why
an unbeaten fighter was not re-signed, without identifying a
specific incident involving Basharat. Mokaev rejected that
explanation and instead blamed TKO and Paramount.

“They can't give a reason. Only thing they gotta say is ‘the
matchmakers can't deal with him.' Total bullsh*t answer. Still I
don't blame Dana, I blame Paramount and TKO,†Mokaev wrote on
X.

Mokaev completed his UFC contract with a victory over Manel Kape
in July 2024, improving to 7-0 in the promotion before it declined
to re-sign him. White cited behind-the-scenes issues at the time,
while Mokaev said matchmakers had warned him about his
grappling-heavy style.

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