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UFC 310: Ian Machado Garry calls out Colby Covington ahead of Shavkat Rakhmonov showdown - 'He'd never do it'

ByLeon Imber

Published 06/12/2024 at 10:26 GMT

Ian Machado Garry said "Colby Covington is afraid of me" and hopes to have the chance to settle their choice words in the octagon following the Irishman's UFC 310 showdown against Shavkat Rakhmonov on Saturday. Machado Garry also had words of praise for the "phenomenal" Rakhmonov, while sharing a heartwarming moment with Charles Oliveira, who will be in his corner for the fight.

‘Shavkat’s phenomenal everywhere!’ - Machado Garry full of praise for UFC 310 clash with Rakhmonov

Video credit: TNT Sports

Ian Machado Garry added more fuel to the fire in his ongoing battle of words with Colby Covington and hopes to have the chance to settle their dispute in the octagon following the Irishman's UFC 310 showdown with Shavkat Rakhmonov.

Covington called out his counterpart through a video on social media in March, and Machado Garry feels the American has been "running since the day he met me".

Dublin-born Machado Garry could be in line for a title shot against Belal Muhammad should he get past Rakhmonov in Las Vegas, but he has his sights set on inflicting on Covington the "worst night of his life".

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"Where is he now?" Machado Garry said in a press conference ahead of UFC 310. "Where has he been for the last eight months?

"He's been f****** running since the day he met me. He's been running since that day. Colby Covington is afraid of me.

"He will never in his life stand in the octagon with me and face his fears. I promise you now, my dream scenario, I finish Shavkat early, come out unscathed walk my a** down to Florida, put that man in the octagon with me and see what happens.

"I would dog walk him for 25 minutes and make it the worst night of his life. I promise you now, he'd never do it."

‘Absolutely imperative’ – Bisping pinpoints keys to victory for Garry against Rakhmonov

Video credit: TNT Sports

Machado Garry beat Geoff Neal via split decision in February before picking up a unanimous decision over Michael 'Venom' Page in June.

But Rakhmonov will prove a staunch test. The 30-year-old has ended every fight of his professional career before the bell, and five of his last six contests by submission.

Rakhmonov labelled his UFC 310 opponent "delusional" ahead of their clash, and while Machado Garry had words of praise for the Kazakh, he backed himself to get the job done in the octagon.

"He's a tougher test," Garry said. "A grinding wrestler, Shavkat is phenomenal everywhere on the feet, he can grapple, he can wrestle, he can beat you on the feet with submission and strikes, beat you on the ground with submission and strikes.

"I just feel like it would've been a nice box to tick off to go out there and show the world I can shut down people's wrestling against that American style and then go forward and fight someone like himself, I'm very excited to have this opportunity.

"He said I was delusional? That's ok. Saturday night we've got to do it under the biggest lights, biggest stage. What matters to me is when I get my hand raised and I show the world I was right every single time."

The Vegas showcase will be headlined by Alexandre Pantoja v Kai Asakura - as the latter makes his maiden appearance in the UFC franchise - live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

‘Got to respect this man’ - Peet and Bisping praise Garry’s ‘fighter mindset’ to face Rakhmonov

Video credit: TNT Sports

'Can't wait to represent Brazil and Ireland'

Charles Oliveira will be in Machado Garry's corner team on Saturday night, and the Irishman was full of praise for the former lightweight champion.

Oliveira boasts a wealth of experience in the octagon, and Machado Garry hailed the "inspiring" Brazilian as the popular UFC figure watched on from the audience.

"He has a different energy with his team," Garry said. "The energy is special, it's different. It's what makes him so powerful.

"He walks into an octagon knowing he has all the support of his family and his team behind him - to me that's inspiring.

"That's everything. I'm proud to have these two Brazilians in my corner, it's an absolute honour and I can't wait to represent Brazil and Ireland in this octagon."

Oliveira beat Michael Chandler via unanimous decision at UFC 309 last month.

HOW TO WATCH UFC 310 ON DISCOVERY+

UFC 310: Pantoja vs Asakura will be live on TNT Sports 2 via discovery+, with coverage from the preliminary fights starting at 01:00 AM (UK time).

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