Ian Garry is rooting for Belal Muhammad to get the job done this Saturday — and for good reason. The Irishman believes that a win for Muhammad will finally earn him the long-awaited title shot he deserves against the Palestinian-American. For the unversed, the Irishman expressed his disdain for Jack Della Maddalena receiving the nod for the title shot at UFC 315 ahead of him, even though the Aussie was effectively out for over a year.

“I had a chat with my agent. I rang him when I heard, when they told me this news, and I was livid. Still am to this day. I had a No. 1 contender’s fight where the guy [Shavkat] now has to get knee reconstruction and is out for a year! But you know, it’s not my fault. I’m not fighting for a world title because I’m coming off a loss, and they’re giving it to a guy who’s been injured for a year, and they think that’s more exciting, but they’re wrong.” Garry said on his Instagram ahead of his bout with Carlos Prates. This win at UFC Kansas City made him the backup fighter for UFC 315’s headliner.

Just days ago, the #6 ranked 170-pounder and his son Leo met Muhammad backstage for an interview, during which the Irishman’s son asked Belal if he could win the fight on the feet — a question gently prompted by his proud dad. Confident as ever, the reigning champion affirmed that he could. Intriguingly, Garry also hinted at a future clash between himself and Muhammad.

Let’s assume Belal Muhammad defeats Jack Della Maddalena this weekend — what’s next for him? Many would expect a clash with Shavkat Rakhmonov. However, Ian Garry has made a bold request to the UFC top brass: He wants a title shot next, and he won’t settle for anything less — even if it’s just an interim title fight. So, when is he anticipating a fight against Muhammad? MMA Junkie asked this exact question to the UFC 315 headliner back-up.

While having a brief with the media, Garry was asked when he is anticipating a clash against the welterweight champion, to which the Irishman stated, “I think the biggest fight you can make right now is Ian Machado Garry versus Belal Muhammad. If he wins, then we do it in Chicago. We do it in his hometown. We sell out the stadium, of which I’ll do most of the heavy lifting on that. But don’t you worry, I’ll sell it out for you, right?”

He further added, “And I think when you look at Belal and what he’s done, he wants to beat the best. He wants to beat these guys that have the best resumes, the best performances, the guys that are going out there and garnering attention from the UFC fan base. There is no one better in the welterweight division right now at doing that than me. So if Belal wants the biggest fight, then he should be fighting me next. And I think he’s going to win this weekend, and I don’t see any reason why it’s not me versus Bal for the belt in August or whenever the card in Chicago is.”

Chicago is the place where Ian Garry wants to face Belal Muhammad—especially this August. After stepping in on short notice to fight both Shavkat Rakhmonov and Carlos Prates, Garry has now made it clear: he only wants a title fight from the UFC. Let’s have a look at what Ian Garry has to say about his title fight.

Ian Garry will not accept anything less than a title fight

UFC Kansas City marked a triumphant night for Ian Garry, as he not only defeated Carlos Prates but also staked his claim for a title shot—or at least, that’s how the Irishman sees it. Now, Garry is in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, serving as the backup fighter for the UFC 315 title bout. The Irishman expects Belal Muhammad to retain the title—and guess what? He’s ready to step up as the next contender.

While having a conversation with ‘Full Send Podcast’, Ian Garry roared, “The truth is, both of the fighters are phenomenal fighters. Belal’s the champion. He went out and he dominated against Leon Edwards to win the belt. He’s a phenomenal fighter. And actually, Belal is a very good human from what I’ve seen. Very respectful. Carries himself very well.”

He further added, “Jack has been inactive. He hasn’t had the best fights recently. He’s got one win over a current ranked opponent. That’s Gilbert [Burns]. I am going to be the next person. I am the biggest matchup he can get in the division. No one gives a rats about Joaquin Buckley. No one gives a rats about Kamaru Usman. He should have been gone a long time ago. They’re irrelevant in my mind. The biggest fight that you can make after this event, when Belal wins, is Belal Muhammad against Ian Machado Garry. And let’s do it in your back garden. Let’s do it in Chicago.”

Ian Garry has doubled down on his Chicago claims, however, the happening of the fight totally depends upon Belal Muhammad’s victory. Given that, let us know your opinion in the comments below?