Islam Makhachev Dismisses Yaroslav Amosov and Backs Ian Garry
Islam Makhachev said he does not view Yaroslav Amosov as a dangerous opponent and named Ian Machado Garry as the man most likely to take the welterweight title after he is gone. The champion made both points in the same Ushatayka interview that has already covered Conor McGregor and Jon Jones.
Amosov is the former Bellator welterweight champion now 2-0 in the UFC. He submitted Neil Magny in December and finished Joel Alvarez with an arm-triangle at UFC 328 in May, moving to 30-1 as a professional.
That résumé has drawn outside praise. Jorge Masvidal called Amosov a nightmare matchup for Makhachev in August, pointing to size, wrestling, and sambo. Makhachev did not share that view.
“Nah, I don’t think he’s a dangerous opponent,” Makhachev said.
He pointed to a night when Amosov’s wrestling was shut down. “I already saw his fight where someone stopped his wrestling.”
He then made the ranking personal. “I don’t consider him a dangerous fighter for me at all.”
The comment does not erase Amosov’s finishing rate or his climb into the welterweight rankings. It does show how the champion measures threat: not by record alone, but by whether a wrestler still looks dangerous after the takedowns stall.
Makhachev saved his strongest praise for the man he just beat. Garry took him the full 25 minutes at UFC 330 in August and left Philadelphia as the No. 1 contender at 17-2.
“I consider one of the most dangerous and serious opponents to be my last opponent, Ian Garry,” Makhachev said.
The Irishman out-landed Makhachev in significant strikes in that title fight and forced the champion to grind out control time after a second-round head kick nearly ended it. Makhachev still won a unanimous decision and broke Anderson Silva’s UFC win-streak record at 17.
That closeness is why the next line carries weight. “I think he will become champion after I leave.”
Makhachev has not announced a retirement date. He has said he wants another title defense before Ramadan in February 2027 and has previously pointed to active names such as Carlos Prates.
Garry’s only UFC losses are to Makhachev and Shavkat Rakhmonov. He remains the highest-ranked welterweight behind the champion, ahead of Prates, Michael Morales, and Jack Della Maddalena.
Amosov is further down that list after two UFC wins. He would need more ranked victories before the promotion would treat him as an immediate title option.
Makhachev’s ranking of the division is therefore a statement of preference, not a booking. He is telling the room that Garry already passed a five-round test he does not believe Amosov has passed.
The champion is 29-1 and still the pound-for-pound No. 1. His next fight has not been announced, and any future meeting with Amosov would first have to survive matchmaking and timing.
Until then, the Ushatayka clip leaves two clear marks on the 170-pound picture. Makhachev does not fear the Ukrainian wrestler who has torn through his first UFC tests, and he is willing to say Garry is the fighter he expects to wear the belt when his own run ends.