It’s not winter … it’s ducking season.
Irish fighter Ian Garry is gearing up for a showdown this weekend (Sat., Dec. 7, 2024) against top Welterweight contender, Shavkat Rakhmonov, in the co-main event of UFC 310 held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Leading up to his high-stakes bout with Rakhmonov, Garry was originally set to take on Joaquin Buckley at UFC Tampa to close out the year. However, difficulties arose in securing a fight as former champion Kamaru Usman and vocal Colby Covington turned down the opportunity.
“I had several conversations with the UFC,” Garry shared with Ariel Helwani. “The original plan was to arrange a fight with Colby Covington, but he has been evading it.”
“They then looked at Kamaru Usman,” Garry continued. “What I was told by the UFC was: ‘Kamaru Usman wants nothing to do with you,’ suggesting that he is also avoiding the matchup.”
Garry proceeded to outline some possible reasons why Usman might be reluctant to face off against him.
“Usman may have a solid physique but lacks the heart,” Garry pointed out. “He may appear strong, but when it comes down to it, he lacks the bravery to match it. Both him and Colby seem to be looking for easier opponents as they near the end of their careers.”
“I can foresee this,” Garry emphasized. “Usman will probably try to arrange a fight with Jack Della Maddalena, considering how Gilbert Burns handled him with ease. If I were in Usman’s shoes, I would choose to face someone more manageable based on his past fights.”
The claim that Usman is avoiding Garry appears doubtful.
However, the former champion, often regarded as one of the top Welterweights in history, took on Khamzat Chimaev on short notice and came close to defeating the unbeaten fighter. He also recently mentioned that he could not compete in the December events as it was “too soon” for him.
Garry’s speculation about a potential “Usman vs. Maddalena” showdown may have some credibility…
For more details on the complete UFC 310 fight card and PPV lineup, click here.
