Ian Machado Garry blasts Colby Covington a “coward” and tensely responds to Shavkat Rakhmonov ahead of UFC 310

Ian Machado Garry, the undefeated Irish sensation in the UFC welterweight division, is making waves with his outspoken nature and unwavering confidence. As he gears up for his co-main event fight against Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310, Garry has called out Colby Covington, criticized selective matchmaking, and dismissed pre-fight taunts from his opponent.

Ian Garry labels Colby Covington a “Coward”

For over a year, Garry has been vocal about wanting to fight Colby Covington, but he believes the UFC star deliberately avoided him. After being reassigned to face Rakhmonov at UFC 310, Garry watched as Covington suddenly stepped in to fight Joaquin Buckley, fueling accusations of evasion.

“He just magically f*cking reappeared out of thin air!” Garry vented during UFC 310 media day. “It proves he’s a coward. He never, ever, ever wanted to fight me.”

Garry further accused Covington of name-dropping fighters, including himself, Rakhmonov, and even Charles Oliveira, to stay relevant in the media spotlight without following through on actual matchups.

Policies requiring Fighters to Accept matchups

Garry didn’t stop at Covington; he also criticized the broader trend of fighters avoiding difficult matchups. According to Garry, the UFC should adopt stricter policies requiring fighters to accept the opponents offered to them or risk being sidelined.

“All these people talk to stay relevant… but people are far too selective in this sport,” Garry emphasized. “It should be you fight this guy, or you don’t fight at all.”

Garry prides himself on being a fighter who backs up his words, citing his willingness to face Rakhmonov, a dangerous and highly respected opponent.

Garry Responds to Shavkat Rakhmonov’s sparring claims

The rivalry between Garry and Rakhmonov has gained steam with Rakhmonov’s claim that he tapped out Garry during a sparring session filmed by Garry’s wife. While Garry admitted the incident occurred, he dismissed its relevance to their upcoming fight.

“If he wants to latch onto a moment of success in training from two years ago and thinks I’m the same fighter I was then, he would be sadly mistaken,” Garry stated.

Garry acknowledged Rakhmonov’s talent but emphasized that training results don’t dictate fight outcomes. “He has to do it Saturday night, and I’m going to show him that I’m far better than he could ever imagine.”

Ian Garry Eyes Gold in 2025

Ian Machado Garry is laser-focused on maintaining his undefeated streak and climbing the ranks of the welterweight division. A victory over Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 would propel him closer to his ultimate goal: a title fight against champion Belal Muhammad in 2025.

Confident, ambitious, and unafraid to call out his peers, Garry is determined to make his mark. As he steps into the octagon, the rising star aims to prove his mettle and silence his doubters on the path to greatness.