Ian Machado Garry is intensifying his efforts to secure a fight against Belal Muhammad, though the timing and enthusiasm from Muhammad are lacking. Garry’s persistent calls to battle ‘Bully B’ target UFC 319, set for August 16 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, aiming to claim the next No. 1 contender spot in the welterweight division.
Previously, Garry was the pay-per-view (PPV) title fight backup for the UFC 315 main event featuring Muhammad versus Jack Della Maddalena, where Della Maddalena emerged with the 170-pound championship. Garry also stepped in for Muhammad at UFC 310 in a title defense against Shavkat Rakhmonov, giving the undefeated contender a tough fight. Most recently, Garry dominated Carlos Prates at UFC Kansas, proving his readiness to advance toward the title.
Upcoming UFC 319 Card Highlights and Garry’s Desire for a Home Turf Battle
The UFC 319 PPV event will be headlined by Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev fighting for the middleweight belt. While the card holds high-profile bouts, Garry is frustrated that Muhammad remains uninterested in their matchup. Garry publicly challenged Muhammad to defend his reputation by facing him in Chicago, Muhammad’s hometown, using social media to voice his demand.
“Belal Muhammad is continuing to call out Kamaru Usman……Usman has said himself that he’s not fighting any time soon. So why does he keep calling him out? Because he’s avoiding me…He’s now started to mention Sean Brady’s name again, a man who he’s already knocked out. Imagine calling out someone you’ve already knocked out! [Now] here’s the truth. Had Belal beat JDM, he’d be fighting me in his hometown of Chicago…So do the right thing. Don’t let your hometown down and accept the fight in Chicago. I’ll see you soon.”
—Ian Garry via IG reels (@iangarryMMA)
Belal Muhammad Focuses on High-Profile Opponents Like Kamaru Usman
Belal Muhammad seems intent on building a lasting legacy by targeting former champion and formidable striker Kamaru Usman, potentially setting up a champions-versus-champions fight. Their feud escalated publicly following an intense confrontation during Usman’s podcast, adding tension to their potential showdown. Usman recently returned from a three-year hiatus with a victory over Joaquin Buckley at UFC Atlanta, positioning himself firmly back into title contention.
Despite Garry’s push, UFC executives and matchmakers like Mick Maynard are tasked with managing these matchmaking complexities, while Garry continues to publicly press his case. Garry criticizes Muhammad’s choice of opponents, pointing out that Muhammad is calling out fighters he has already defeated, such as Sean Brady.
Belal Muhammad Dismisses Ian Garry and Accuses Him of Emulating Conor McGregor
Belal Muhammad has declined the prospect of fighting Ian Garry soon, preferring to face Usman next. Muhammad regards Garry’s recent backup role as underwhelming and dismisses Garry’s claims of being a superior striker to both Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena, whom Garry has criticized as sloppy. Muhammad’s confidence in his striking style, nicknamed “Canelo Hands,” was on full display during his recent fight against Della Maddalena in Montreal.
In response to Garry’s verbal challenges, Muhammad mocked him online, likening Garry’s trash talk to a low-budget imitation of Conor McGregor’s style, and questioned Garry’s ability to speak confidently as well as fight.
“Ian Garry out here trying to do Conor cosplay with Dollar Tree trash talk, …Bro, your lines hit softer than your jab. You sound like a teenager who just discovered McGregor highlight reels. You wanna outbox me? Try out-talking me first without embarrassing yourself; Until then, go back to rehearsing in the mirror. Maybe one day, your trash talk will be as sharp as your barbers fade!”
—Belal Muhammad
Adding to the spectacle, Muhammad posted a video featuring AI-generated trash talk directed at Garry, captioned “See you in November, dork,” hinting at a possible fight at Madison Square Garden later this year. This unusual method of taunting Garry with a ChatGPT script amplified the tension between the fighters, with Muhammad scoring a psychological edge for the moment.
The Stakes and Future Prospects of the Muhammad-Garry Rivalry
The growing dispute between Ian Garry and Belal Muhammad highlights the challenges of navigating title contention in the UFC’s competitive welterweight division. With Shavkat Rakhmonov sidelined by injury, new opportunities are opening for contenders like Garry to make their case. However, Muhammad’s focus on bigger names like Usman and his calculated rejection of Garry’s calls reflect the strategic decisions fighters often make to enhance their legacies.
If this rivalry progresses to an official bout, possibly at UFC 319 in Chicago or a November PPV in New York, it could become a defining moment for both fighters. For Garry, overcoming Muhammad would solidify his standing as a top contender and raise his profile considerably. For Muhammad, defending against a rising star while targeting Usman preserves his ambition to cement his place among the division’s elites.
The resolution of this conflict depends heavily on UFC’s matchmaking decisions and the fighters’ willingness to meet in the Octagon. The tension building publicly through trash talk and social media exchanges indicates the fight’s inevitable arrival, promising high drama inside and outside the cage.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Belal Muhammad Islamic?
A. Personal life: Muhammad follows Islam and openly supports Palestine.
Q. Does Belal Muhammad do Ramadan?
A. Belal Muhammad, the UFC welterweight champion, has experience training during Ramadan. Muhammad, whose MMA record is 24-3 and UFC record is 15-3, last trained during this period for his fight against Gilbert Burns at UFC 288 in May 2023. He won the match, which went for five rounds, by unanimous decision, making him the No. 1 contender.