Overview
- Ian Machado Garry won a unanimous decision over former champion Belal Muhammad (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) in the co-main event in Doha.
- The fight featured two accidental eye pokes by Garry on Muhammad, leading to brief stoppages and a referee warning before continuing.
- After the victory, Garry declared himself the number-one contender and called on Makhachev to defend the belt against him.
- Reaction was divided, with some praising Garry’s performance and others—including Henry Cejudo—arguing a decision win should not secure an immediate title shot.
- Kamaru Usman, Michael Morales, Carlos Prates and Shavkat Rakhmonov remain viable options, and the UFC has not announced Makhachev’s next opponent; Muhammad, who lost his title in May, has indicated he could face Makhachev if required.