Ian Machado Garry doesn’t think former UFC champ Leon Edwards can hang with the rising contenders anymore.
After going on a 13-fight unbeaten streak, Edwards (22-5 MMA, 14-4 UFC) has dropped back-to-back fights – losing his welterweight title to Belal Muhammad at UFC 304, followed by a submission loss to Sean Brady at UFC Fight Night 255 in March.
Judging by the dominant nature of his loss to Brady, Machado Garry (16-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) questions Edwards’ fighting spirit.
“If I was Leon, I would be retiring,” Machado Garry told talkSPORT MMA. “He clearly doesn’t have the love for it anymore, clearly doesn’t have the talent for it against the best young youth in the division. Just kick it in, say you were a world champion and go off into the streets of Birmingham and tell the people the story of what was, not what is.”
As for his own career, 27-year-old Machado Garry remains confident that he will realize his goal of becoming UFC champion.
“It should have come back in UFC 315 in Canada. That’s the truth: It should have,” Machado Garry said of a title shot. “But they decided to go with a guy who’s been out for a year and coming off a broken arm and not being active for a year. But that’s up to them as a business, and they can do what they want. All I know is I was present for the world title fight between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena in Canada, and had I fought that night, I would have a belt wrapped around my waist. That’s what I fully believe.”
