At UFC 310 this past Saturday, Ian Machado Garry faced Shavkat Rakhmonov and experienced his first loss after five intense rounds. Garry stepped in on short notice, just three weeks before the fight, after Belal Muhammad had to pull out.
Despite giving it his best, Garry couldn’t secure the win, and Rakhmonov remained undefeated. This loss meant Garry missed his chance at a welterweight title shot for now.
Chael Sonnen Supports Ian Machado Garry After His First Career Loss
Even though Ian Machado Garry lost his first fight, he didn’t lose any respect. He went up against one of the toughest fighters, Shavkat Rakhmonov, and gave it his all. Many thought Garry might struggle with defending against takedowns, but he impressed everyone by stopping 8 out of 10 attempts.
UFC legend Chael Sonnen agrees that Garry still proved himself in the fight. Despite the loss, Sonnen believes Garry’s performance showed he’s a strong fighter with a lot of potential, and he’s still on the rise.
“Ian Garry physically did some things extremely well. Every time Rakhmonov closed the gap and got his hands on Garry, Garry backed up,” Sonnen explained on his YouTube channel.
“It was a big deal (on Saturday night), and Ian Garry won in several categories. Rakhmonov has never lost a position, you can’t say that anymore. Rakhmonov has never lost a round, I don’t know who those judges gave the fifth round to, I couldn’t hear, I bet they gave it to Garry though, I think (he won that),” he continued.
Ian Machado Garry had a strong third round, with all three judges agreeing he won it. He even almost won the fight when he nearly got a rear-naked choke on his opponent, coming very close to finishing the match.
“Ian Garry did what no other guy could do, plus 70%. That’s very impressive. I’m campaigning for Ian Garry,” Sonnen added.
Sonnen thinks Colby Covington might get a shot at fighting for an interim title against Rakhmonov. Even though Belal and Rakhmonov were supposed to meet after UFC 310, Sonnen feels the UFC could set up a new fight for the title, especially since Muhammad downplayed his injury.
“Belal has a life-threatening infection in his leg. Belal should not have been there tonight. Belal is too tough and too brave to tell you guys that but that is what he’s dealing with… He can’t do 50 pushups right now.
“That fight is likely going to be delayed and we’ll see if we even get to that fight,” Sonnen claimed.
This Saturday, Colby Covington is making his comeback after more than a year away from the Octagon. The former interim welterweight champion will face Joaquin Buckley in his first fight back.
Sonnen has said that it wouldn’t be shocking if Covington wins and gets a shot at an interim title against the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov next.
“Do not be stunned if Colby rolls through Buckley and Colby draws into a fight against Rakhmonov for an interim championship, I’m just sharing that, don’t be stunned. But what do you do with Garry? Garry won tonight, for me, his stock went up tonight, for me,” Sonnen continued.
The UFC Hall of Famer thinks that the Irish fighter should face Leon Edwards, the former champion, in the main event at UFC London this March.
