Unbeaten UFC middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev has sternly warned rising Irish welterweight star Ian Garry to reconsider his ambitions of moving up to middleweight.
Garry, currently ranked No. 7 at 170 lbs, is set to face Shavkat Rakhmonov in a title eliminator this weekend at UFC 310, but he’s already thinking ahead about his future in the higher division.
Speaking about his career goals, Ian Garry revealed his desire to win the welterweight belt before taking his talents to the middleweight division. “I’ve said to you before how my ideal scenario is I fight and beat Shavkat, and then win the welterweight title,” Garry told Ariel Helwani during an interview for Uncrowned.
He didn’t hold back as he spoke about his confidence, even hinting at a future showdown with Chimaev at middleweight. “I go up to middleweight, I fight Khamzat (Chimaev) and win that belt too. I’m not afraid of any man, I know how talented I am,” Garry said. “I know the gifts God gave me.”
However, Chimaev, the No. 3-ranked middleweight who recently submitted former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 308, had a quick response to Garry’s aspirations. In a bold statement, Chimaev posted on his social media: “You’re too skinny kid, don’t go near the Wolf’s teeth, you’ll end up headless.”
The Chechen-born star has made it clear that he considers himself a dangerous force in the UFC, and with a likely middleweight title shot ahead of him, his warning to Garry further intensifies the heat between the two fighters.
For now, Ian Garry’s immediate focus is on UFC 310, where he will face Shavkat Rakhmonov in a highly anticipated co-main event.
The outcome of this bout could determine his shot at the welterweight title, but his plans to reign across two divisions have already sparked a war of words with one of the UFC’s most dangerous middleweights.
Will Garry overcome the challenge at UFC 310 and continue his climb, or will Khamzat Chimaev remain a terrifying hurdle in his path? Fans are eagerly watching as the storyline unfolds.
