UFC welterweight competitor Ian Machado Garry didn`t hold back in his criticism of the division`s newly crowned champion.
Jack Della Maddalena recently capped off his undefeated streak within the UFC Octagon with an impressive display against Belal Muhammad at UFC 315. In a fight that`s a strong candidate for `Fight of the Year`, Maddalena defeated the champion by unanimous decision to claim the welterweight title.
Maddalena is now anticipated to face UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in a potential superfight later this year. Makhachev is set to vacate the lightweight belt at UFC 317, where Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira are scheduled to compete for the title.
Despite serving as the backup fighter for UFC 315, Ian Machado Garry was a notable presence throughout the fight week activities. He shared pleasant interactions with both Maddalena and Muhammad in the lead-up to the event, accompanied by his son. However, the situation changed following UFC 315.
Ian Machado Garry Responds to Jack Della Maddalena’s Personal Remarks Post-UFC 315
After Garry`s son offered Maddalena some candy during a UFC 315 media day, Maddalena reacted negatively to the gesture. He subsequently questioned Garry`s intentions and even cast doubt on his son`s paternity.
These remarks were uncharacteristic for the usually calm Maddalena, and Garry took offense.
Appearing on The Ariel Helwani Show, Garry addressed Maddalena`s comments directly.
“It was a harmless joke about a child giving a fighter M&Ms, with the underlying humor being ‘take these, miss weight, my daddy will step in and win the world title’. It was just meant as a bit of fun,” Garry stated.
“But then to go out and make those kinds of comments, it just shows immaturity, and it reveals that he`s quite sensitive. Because if he says something like that… which is unlike him… it means what I was doing during fight week annoyed him enough to provoke such a reaction.”
“Which indicates that when I eventually fight him, I’ll be able to cause a tremendous amount of annoyance, because I believe he is mentally fragile and I can get inside his head.”
Tensions between Maddalena and Garry escalated further when Maddalena’s long-time coach mocked Garry’s tendency for his fights to go the distance. Garry recently defeated Carlos Prates at UFC Kansas City last month, following his first career loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310.
Islam Makhachev Called a ‘Coward’ for Choosing JDM Fight Over Ilia Topuria
While Maddalena likely prepares for a clash with Makhachev, a prominent UFC figure criticized Makhachev for planning to vacate the lightweight title and move up to the 170 lbs division. Chael Sonnen described Makhachev’s apparent dismissal of a fight against Ilia Topuria as an act of cowardice.
Makhachev`s most recent lightweight title defense was against Renato Moicano at UFC 311. He was originally scheduled to headline the event against Arman Tsarukyan, but Tsarukyan withdrew just hours before the fight due to a back injury.
The potential Makhachev vs. Maddalena bout could materialize in October when the UFC is expected to return to Abu Dhabi for a pay-per-view event.
Gareth Pendleton