Above him is former division champion, Jack Della Maddalena, who is already scheduled for the promotion’s return to Perth later this year (more on that here). But that booking doesn’t necessarily mean “The Future” has a clear path to reigning welterweight kingpin, Islam Makhachev.
It seems the champ has moved on to bigger and better things.
“This is, I can tell you, the UFC [is] working on a big fight [for] Islam Makhachev and Ian’s name is not involved,” Makhachev’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, wrote on social media. “Much bigger. One of the biggest fights in the UFC right now they can make. Stay tuned.”
There are only two fights that qualify as “bigger” than Garry, despite this chatter.
One of them would be a champion vs. champion super fight against current lightweight titleholder Ilia Topuria, which seems unlikely based on these comments. The other would be a headlining attraction opposite former 155-pound champion Conor McGregor, who is not expected to compete at UFC White House.
