Ireland’s Ian Machado Garry says he is still “livid” at the UFC’s decision to give Jack Della Maddalena a title shot against Belal Muhammad instead of him.
Australia’s Della Maddalena was called in to replace the injured Shavkat Rakhmonov to fight UFC welterweight champion Muhammad on 10 May.
Machado Garry lost to Rakhmonov in a number one contender fight last December and the Irishman felt he should have been given the nod.
“When they told me this news, I was livid. Still am to this day,” the 27-year-old said on Instagram., external
“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.
“Now they’re pulling in a guy who hasn’t fought in a year because he’s had an operation on his forearm because he broke it in his last fight, hasn’t fought in a long time, hasn’t been active.”
Della Maddalena was scheduled to fight former champion Leon Edwards in London on Saturday before the UFC reshuffled that main event so the 28-year-old could fight Muhammad.
Della Maddalena, who has 17 wins and two defeats on his record, last fought 12 months ago when he stopped Gilbert Burns.
Machado Garry lost for the first time in his career to Rakhmonov, but it was a close fight between the welterweight rivals.
Birmingham’s Edwards says he expects to be given the next title shot should he beat American Sean Brady this weekend.
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