“He Beat You with No Legs” – Ian Garry Roasted by MMA Fans After Taking Credit for Shavkat Rakhmonov’s Injury Trouble

#2 ranked welterweight Ian Garry makes a remark to rival Shavkat Rakhmonov's recent injury that will further sideline his career.

“He Beat You with No Legs” – Ian Garry Roasted by MMA Fans After Taking Credit for Shavkat Rakhmonov’s Injury Trouble

Ian Garry trolled for his comments on Shavkat Rakhmonov's injury (via The Independent, MMA Mania)

Ian Garry is regarded as one of the fastest-rising welterweights in the UFC. He built his record through composed performances in the Octagon while developing a confident persona, which fueled his rise. That persona resurfaced recently when he took credit for Shavkat Rakhmonov’s injury scare and removal from the UFC rankings. Notably, the Kazakh native is the only fighter to hand Garry his lone professional defeat.

Their highly anticipated clash took place in December 2024 at UFC 310 in Las Vegas. The five-round welterweight bout featured several momentum shifts as both fighters traded success. In the fifth round, the Irish welterweight threatened with a tight rear-naked choke that appeared close to finishing the fight. However, Rakhmonov escaped and closed out the bout to secure a unanimous decision victory.

However, Rakhmonov has not competed in the UFC since that bout and was sidelined throughout 2025 due to a knee injury. He was expected to return in 2026 and remained part of the welterweight title picture despite his absence. That timeline shifted after another recent setback, which required further surgery. Garry capitalized on the moment by publicly taking credit for sidelining Rakhmonov.

He was eliminated at our title eliminator.

Ian Garry via X

As the welterweight division evolves with younger contenders such as Michael Morales and Carlos Prates earning recent wins, the UFC removed Rakhmonov from the official 170-pound rankings due to prolonged inactivity. The decision reflected an emphasis on active competition. However, it drew major backlash from fans, as the Kazakh native had been a fan favorite throughout his dominant UFC run.

Garry, on the other hand, has rebounded strongly from that setback and rebuilt momentum within the welterweight division. He defeated Carlos Prates in April 2025 before securing a high-profile win over former champion Belal Muhammad at UFC Qatar in November 2025. The Irishman has pointed to those victories as evidence that he is now positioned for an immediate title opportunity.

Ian Garry has become increasingly vocal about pursuing a title fight against newly crowned champion Islam Makhachev, seeing it as a chance to change global perceptions by defeating the UFC’s top pound-for-pound fighter. However, scrutiny follows him due to his polarizing persona and a record built largely on decision victories, a dynamic reflected again in the recent Shavkat Rakhmonov situation.

Fans react to Ian Garry’s recent comments regarding Shavkat Rakhmonov’s injury

Many fans reacted by questioning Ian Garry’s decision to publicly take credit for Rakhmonov’s struggles with injury, with some viewing it as unnecessary given the outcome of their fight. They pointed out that Shavkat Rakhmonov won decisively and has remained highly regarded despite his absence. For these fans, the situation reinforced the idea that Garry’s confidence often spills into controversy.

Ian Garry vs Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310
Ian Garry vs Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 (via Bleacher Report)

Some fans went further by calling out Garry for what they viewed as poor sportsmanship, criticizing him for appearing to celebrate another fighter’s injury. They pointed out that the Kazakh fighter was widely seen as a clear title contender and would likely have been competing for the belt if not for the injury setbacks. For those critics, ‘Machado’s comments crossed a line between confidence and disrespect.

Others looked back at Shavkat Rakhmonov’s record before the Garry fight, noting that he had finished every opponent by submission or knockout. They argued that the bout with Garry revealed a more vulnerable side, as it went the distance for the first time in his career. That performance has been cited by some as the foundation for Ian Garry’s confidence when addressing the situation.

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