Ian Machado Garry wants Michael Morales to move up to middleweight, and if the latter refuses to, then Garry is ready to teach him a lesson at 170 pounds.
Morales is the No. 3 UFC welterweight contender, who is undefeated and boasts a record of 19-0. The 26-year-old has secured three consecutive first-round knockout victories in his last three outings. The Ecuadorian last fought at UFC 322, where he dismantled Sean Brady in Round 1. After that win, he has been calling out 170-pound champion Islam Makhachev non-stop.
But the promotion has chosen Ian Machado Garry to be Makhachev’s next opponent, and the two will lock horns in August at UFC 330.
Meanwhile, Morales will likely have to wait for a welterweight title shot, as top contender Carlos Prates believes he is next in line. After scoring back-to-back knockout victories over two former champions, Prates has expressed confidence that he will face the winner of the Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Machado Garry title fight without needing to take another bout in the meantime.
Ian Machado Garry warns Michael Morales: “punch a hole in his head”
Ian Machado Garry recently appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show. During the sitdown, the Irishman had some advice for Michael Morales. He said:
“If I was Michael Morales, my advice to him would be to go up to 185 [pounds]. Because you’re young, you’re big, you’re somewhat talented. There is a lack of stars up there in the sport and I think he could do very well there.”
“The Future” also sent a chilling warning to the 26-year-old, adding:
“But if he wants to stay at 170 [pounds], I will punch a hole in his head at some of time.”
Check out Ian Machado Garry’s comments about Michael Morales below: