Former UFC champion Kamaru Usman had plenty to say after Ian Machado Garry’s recent comments. Garry stepped up to face Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 when Usman chose not to take the fight.
Garry suffered his first professional loss to Rakhmonov after previously defeating fighters like Neil Magny and Michael ‘Venom’ Page. Even with the loss, many still see Garry as a rising star in the division.
Before UFC 310, Garry called out Usman and Colby Covington, accusing them of avoiding him. After Garry’s defeat, Usman didn’t hold back in addressing the claims.
Kamaru Usman Claps Back at Ian Machado Garry’s Trash Talk
On a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Kamaru Usman responded to Ian Machado Garry’s claims, doubting whether Garry had proven himself enough to share the cage with him. Usman dismissed the idea, questioning Garry’s credibility as a contender.
“Does he even deserve that?” Usman said. “Leading up to this fight, a lot was being said, made a lot of [things up]. I don’t run from anybody! No one. I run from no one, and I don’t know too many guys that are going to run from anyone, because this is the game!
“We fight to make money. If we don’t fight, we don’t get paid. Anyone in the UFC has to step in there in order to get paid,” Usman continued. “So the notion that ‘Oh yeah, they were scared of me’. Like who are you? Who are you that I, of all people, are scared of you? I guess he was upset because he wanted me to be his late-notice replacement for his fight. Who the f*** is that guy for me to be a late replacement for?”
🗣️ Kamaru Usman: “Does [Ian Garry] even deserve [a fight with me]?… who are you, that I of all people am scared of you?”
🗣️ Ian Garry in response to Usman: “Kamaru Usman is a little b*tch.” 😳
🎥 @pound4poundshow, @arielhelwani #UFC #MMApic.twitter.com/9XTgiPxsU2
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) December 9, 2024
Kamaru Usman hasn’t fought since his loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294. He mentioned that he’s still recovering from injuries that built up over time. Usman shared that he plans to return to the Octagon in 2025 once he’s fully healed and in better shape. Before his back-to-back losses to Leon Edwards, many considered him one of the top fighters in the UFC.
Kamaru Usman had been thinking about moving to middleweight, but after Ian Machado Garry made some comments, Usman might change his plans. They could possibly fight in 2025, depending on when Usman feels ready to return.
Before his loss to Rakhmonov, Garry had been undefeated in his MMA career, even winning a title in Cage Warriors before coming to the UFC. He’s still young and likely to be a serious contender in the welterweight division for years to come.
Usman is eager to get back to winning after his last victory against Colby Covington at UFC 268. He defended his welterweight title against fighters like Jorge Masvidal and Gilbert Burns, but Leon Edwards took the belt from him at UFC 278.
