Ian Machado Garry and Colby Covington have some differences to settle.
Between the two Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight contenders, Garry has been the one more open to the challenge and continues to push “Chaos” towards a fight. According to Garry, he’s just waiting on the three-time undisputed title challenger to sign the contract, which he has already done.
Covington, 36, initiated the rivalry by taking shots at Garry and his family before requesting a three-part stipulation request for him to agree to a bout. Ultimately, Garry didn’t succumb to the objectively absurd demands, and Covington has now claimed his Irish counterpart to be “unserious” about fighting him.
“There’s only one person I want right now,” Garry told Full Send backstage at UFC 301. “I’ve made it very f—king clear who I want. Everyone knows his name. Colby, come out, come out wherever you are. He’s running. He’s gonna keep running. He doesn’t want this smoke.
“He doesn’t want it,” he continued. “He knows that I’m a terrible stylistic match up for him. When you look at it, I’ve never been taken down in the UFC. His only goal against me is to try to take me down and put me on my back. There’s a reason I’m in Brazil training with Demian Maia and Charles Oliveira, Chute Boxe. That’s exactly the part of my game I’m looking forward to someone bringing me to.”
Garry, 26, has only been trending upward since his mixed martial arts (MMA) debut in February 2019. “The Future” is a legitimate contender in the 170-pound ranks, having won all 14 of his professional fights. A clash with Covington would undeniably be his biggest yet after most recently earning a split decision over Geoff Neal at UFC 298 this past February 2024. Despite that, the Irishman isn’t lacking any confidence.
“If Colby signs that contract, I’m gonna walk out with my knee up going, ‘Take the f—kin’ thing. Take the f—kin’ thing and see what happens,’” Garry said. “I will ragdoll him. I promise you. There’s no doubt in my mind I will ragdoll him. That’s why he’s not signing the contract. That’s why he’s not agreeing to the fight. He’s avoiding all conversations with the UFC. He doesn’t want the smoke, pal.”