Ian Machado Garry: UFC champ Islam Makhachev making up injury excuses
· Yahoo Sports
Ian Machado Garry has taken aim at Islam Makhachev as he continues to vie for a title shot.
Makhachev (28-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) claimed the welterweight title by dominating Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 this past November. His manager Ali Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie in January that Makhachev was targeting a return in May or June, but Dana White revealed last week that the champion is dealing with a hand injury.
Visit rocore.sbs for more information.
Abdelaziz also appeared rather dismissive of Machado Garry (17-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) by saying the math doesn't add up, and is pushing for his client Kamaru Usman to get the shot instead. Machado Garry thinks Makhachev is ducking him.
"I heard that too, but I don't believe it," Machado Garry said on his Instagram. "I don't know what to believe. I can't imagine he hurt his hand in the last fight with Jack. So maybe he did it in horse riding? I don't know. I don't believe it. I think it's excuses.
"Everything about me now tells me he doesn't want to fight me. I don't know if it's mentally, physically, whatever it is, but he's doing the typical thing that all champions do when they get the belt. They try and maintain their position, maintain their relevancy by not fighting and staying inactive. When I fight, that all changes."
Since suffering his first-career loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov, Machado Garry rebounded with back-to-back wins over Carlos Prates, and former champion Belal Muhammad at UFC Fight Night 265.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Ian Machado Garry: UFC champ Islam Makhachev making up injury excuses