Belal Muhammad and Ian Machado Garry will clash in a high-stakes fight at UFC Qatar.
New welterweight champion Islam Makhachev is currently looking for an opponent to face in his first title defense.
Michael Morales knocked out Sean Brady to make his case for a shot at MMA’s greatest prize last weekend. Carlos Prates called for a title shot after beating Leon Edwards earlier in the evening at UFC 322.
The winner of Belal Muhammad vs Ian Machado Garry could jump to the front of the queue at 170lbs.
Who’ll win? Let’s see what the Bloody Elbow writers are thinking about the UFC Qatar co-main event.
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Bloody Elbow staff predict UFC Qatar co-headliner
Jordan Ellis: “Ian Machado Garry has proven that he’s got the fight IQ to go with his elite-level skills. I think he’ll be able to formulate a game plan to stay out of grappling exchanges with the former welterweight champion. I expect Belal Muhammad to be picked apart on the feet over five rounds and suffer his second successive decision defeat.”
IAN MACHADO GARRY BY DECISION
Donagh Corby: “I’m undeniably biased for my countryman Ian Machado Garry, but I also believe him to be the best welterweight in the world, and I believe he will prove that against Belal Muhammad. The blueprint is out there from the Jack Della Maddalena fight on how to beat the former champ, and I believe Machado Garry can do anything Della Maddalena can, but better and more efficiently. Unfortunately, it’s likely Ian needs a KO here to guarantee himself a shot at Islam Makhachev, and I’m not sure if he does that.”
IAN MACHADO GARRY BY DECISION
UFC Qatar fight card
- Arman Tsarukyan vs Dan Hooker
- Belal Muhammad vs Ian Garry
- Volkan Oezdemir vs Alonzo Menifield
- Jack Hermansson vs Myktybek Orolbai
- Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs Shamil Gaziev
- Alex Perez vs Asu Alambayev
- Bogdan Grad vs Luke Riley
- Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev vs Rafael Cerqueira
- Tagir Ulanbekov vs Kyoji Horiguchi
- Bekzat Almakhan vs Aleksandre Topuria
- Ismail Naurdiev vs Ryan Loder
- Nurullo Aliev vs Shem Rock
- Nicolas Dalby vs Saygid Izagakhmaev
- Marek Bujlo vs Denzel Freeman
Harvey Leonard: “When Belal Muhammad focuses entirely on grappling his opponents, he is a tough man to beat. Just ask Stephen Thompson, who found himself unable to prevent the former champ’s control. It will take that kind of performance to beat Ian Machado Garry, who is as technical and gifted on the feet as they come at 170 pounds. Muhammad’s approach to fighting Jack Della Maddalena this year and his comments about standing up with Garry worry me, though, so I’m predicting a decision victory for the Irishman.”
IAN MACHADO GARRY BY DECISION
Kyle Dimond: “Belal Muhammad has been very effective at shutting people down in the past, but time is a huge factor for me in this one. At 37 years old, having just lost the belt, this fight may have arrived at the worst time for Muhammad and the perfect time for Ian Machado Garry.”
IAN MACHADO GARRY BY DECISION
Jamie Theodosi: “Belal Muhammad’s performance against Jack Della Maddalena showed that maybe he doesn’t have the highest of fight IQs. And he is coming up against Ian Machado Garry, who does have a high fight IQ. Machado Garry will keep his distance and pick Belal off at range for a decision win.”
IAN MACHADO GARRY BY DECISION