Ian Machado Garry isn’t taking Colby Covington’s callout lightly. After being on the receiving end of a fiery challenge from Covington, Garry wasted no time in firing back with a bold proposition of his own. In a recent Instagram response on Sunday, Garry threw down the gauntlet, challenging Covington to an all-or-nothing retirement match in a WWE-style showdown.
Covington’s callout didn’t sit well with Garry, who didn’t hesitate to clap back at the former interim welterweight champion. Garry criticized Covington’s track record in UFC title fights, highlighting his three consecutive losses and lack of victories over top-ranked welterweights. Refusing to let Covington dictate the terms of engagement, Garry issued a direct challenge for a no-holds-barred “I quit” match, where the loser would be forced to retire from MMA competition.
In his response, Garry minced no words, calling out Covington’s focus on his wife and emphasizing that women are not to be objectified or disrespected. Instead, Garry urged Covington to concentrate on the impending showdown between them, emphasizing his determination to be the one to deliver a decisive blow to Covington’s career.
“Listen here, Colby ‘Chaos’ Covington, you are in no position to tell me what I should be doing in life. You’ll do as you’re told. You gave me three stipulations, all of which had nothing to do about fighting and were all talking about my wife. I don’t know how you were raised, but women aren’t property and my wife definitely ain’t no trophy. You should be focusing on me. I am the one who’s in that octagon with you. I’m the one who’s going to punch a hole in your head. So stop swerving me and keep Layla’s name out your mouth. You’re not America’s favorite fighter. What you are is a peak underperformer.”
Garry continued in the response:
“You’re the only person in UFC history to lose three world title fights, and you haven’t got a single win against anybody in the top 15 right now. So Colby, why should I fight you? I can think of one reason. I challenge you to an ‘I quit’ match, where one of us has to say, ‘I quit,’ and whoever says the words ‘I quit’ has to retire — gloves off, center of the octagon, sayonara, my friend. I’m going to be the final chapter in your legacy of failure. I’m going to rid the UFC of Colby Covington for good, and I’m going to make MMA great again.”
The Irish sensation, boasting an unblemished record of 14-0, has been making waves in the welterweight division with impressive victories over formidable opponents like Daniel Rodriguez, Neil Magny, and Geoff Neal. On the other hand, Covington, despite his notoriety, has faced setbacks in recent years, with just two wins in his last five outings.
As the tension between Garry and Covington continues to escalate, MMA fans are eagerly awaiting further developments and the potential confirmation of what could be a career-defining matchup for both fighters. With Garry’s undefeated streak on the line and Covington looking to reclaim his former glory, the stakes have never been higher in the welterweight division.
While the prospect of a retirement match may seem extreme, it underscores the intensity of the rivalry between Garry and Covington and the lengths to which they are willing to go to settle their differences inside the octagon. As the MMA world braces for this epic clash of titans, one thing is certain – this showdown promises to be a spectacle for the ages.
