However, when Shavkat Rakhmonov lost out on his title fight against welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in Saturday’s UFC 310 event at T-Mobile Arena, Machado Garry stepped in to face “Nomad” in a five-round co-main event. According to Machado Garry, a potential fight with Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) was previously in discussion.

Undefeated records, championships, you name it - Ian Machado Garry wants it all, including a long-awaited, much asked-for grudge match against Colby Covington.

Ian Machado Garry has some brutal words for former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. He also had ducking accusations.

Machado Garry was referencing the fact that No 1 and No 2-ranked Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman did not step in to face No 3 Rakhmonov, nor did the division’s fourth, fifth and sixth-seeded fighters: Sean Brady, Jack Della Maddalena and Colby Covington. Meanwhile, Machado Garry is ranked seventh at 170lb.

Eyeing the 18-0 Shavkat Rakhmonov and 15-0 Ian Machado Garry, Belal Muhammad sits on the throne of the welterweight division unbeaten in his last 11 UFC fights. Decision after decision (and one TKO of Sean Brady), nobody's been able to crack the code of Muhammad in almost six years.

Michael Bisping has said Ian Machado Garry “will get finished” at UFC 310 if he can’t stop Shavkat Rakhmonov ’s takedowns. Rakhmonov, one of the most fearsome contenders in the UFC, is 18-0 with 18 stoppage wins, and the Kazakh was due to challenge welterweight champion Belal Muhammad on Saturday (7 December).