On a humid November night in Doha, Ian Machado Garry didn’t just win a fight — he rewrote the UFC welterweight hierarchy. The 26-year-old Irish fighter, undefeated at 17-0, outpointed veteran Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision at the UFC Qatar Fight NightLusail Sports Arena on Saturday, November 22, 2025. But the 30-27, 30-27, 29-28 scores only tell part of the story. What happened inside the Octagon left fans stunned, officials scrambling, and the division in chaos.
The Fight That Broke the Rules
Garry landed 178 significant strikes to Muhammad’s 142 — a staggering 36-strike edge that dominated the scorecards. His jab was surgical, his front kicks brutal, his high kicks a constant threat. But the real story wasn’t the numbers. It was the eye pokes.
Three times, referee Marc Goddard halted the action: at 2:15 of round one, 3:40 of round two, and 1:22 of round three. Each time, Garry had accidentally — or perhaps not so accidentally — poked Muhammad in the eye. And each time, Goddard gave only a verbal warning. No point deductions. Not even a caution. Muhammad, visibly enraged, screamed into the camera at the 91-second mark of the broadcast: “He’s poking my eye!”
Then, in round three, after the third poke, Muhammad charged forward with fists swinging. Garry didn’t retreat. He countered with a clean one-two, then a front kick that snapped Muhammad’s head back. The crowd roared. The judges? They kept scoring it for Garry.
“It’s not the first time this has happened,” said one longtime UFC analyst on a post-fight podcast. “But it’s the first time a fighter’s been allowed to get away with it this often without consequence. That’s not consistency — it’s negligence.”
“I Want the Belt Next”
As the final bell rang at 10:35 PM local time, Garry didn’t celebrate with a dance. He didn’t point to the sky. He looked straight into the camera, sweat dripping, and said: “This was a war. I want the belt next.”
It wasn’t just bravado. It was a declaration. And the UFC heard it.
With this win, Garry leapfrogged multiple top-10 contenders. He’s now the clear #1 contender — even though the current champion, Leon Edwards, hasn’t been mentioned since his last title defense in May. The division is in limbo. Edwards has been sidelined with injury. The interim title was vacated after Muhammad’s brief reign ended in 2021. And now, Garry stands alone at the top of the queue.
UFC president Dana White didn’t comment immediately. But insiders say the organization is already weighing options. One possibility? A unification bout with Islam Makhachev, the current lightweight champion who’s been rumored to be eyeing a move to 170 pounds. If Makhachev makes the jump, it could be the biggest fight in UFC history — and Garry would be waiting.
Controversy That Could Change the Game
The eye poke issue isn’t just about one fight. It’s about precedent.
UFC rules state that after three warnings for an intentional foul, a point deduction is mandatory. But here, Garry received three warnings — and nothing more. The judges didn’t penalize him. The referee didn’t escalate. The UFC didn’t review it afterward.
“This is dangerous,” said former UFC referee Herb Dean in a post-fight interview. “If you let fighters get away with this, you’re telling them it’s okay to gamble with their opponent’s vision. That’s not sport. That’s risk management gone wrong.”
Some fans are calling for a rematch — with stricter officiating. Others are demanding a formal review of Goddard’s performance. The UFC has yet to respond.
Who’s Next?
Garry trains at Straight Blast Gym Ireland under John Kavanagh, the same coach who developed Conor McGregor. His style is precise, athletic, and ruthlessly efficient. He’s not a brawler. He’s a technician who knows how to win ugly — and he just proved he’s willing to.
Muhammad, meanwhile, is now 17-2. His last loss was in 2021, when he lost the interim title. He’s been rebuilding ever since. This defeat doesn’t end his career — but it does delay his title shot. He’ll need a win over someone like Khamzat Chimaev or Stephen Thompson to get back in the mix.
As for Garry? He’s already talking about the belt. And with no official challenger named, he’s the only logical choice.
What’s the Bigger Picture?
The UFC welterweight division hasn’t had a clear path to the title since Edwards’ last defense. Now, with Garry’s victory, the door is wide open. But the controversy threatens to overshadow the achievement.
Here’s the thing: Garry didn’t win because he was the better fighter — he won because the system failed to punish the fouls. That’s not a victory for the sport. That’s a victory for chaos.
But here’s the twist: in MMA, chaos often creates champions.
So if Garry gets his title shot — and if he wins it — will history remember him as a master strategist… or as the beneficiary of a broken system?
Frequently Asked Questions
Why didn’t the referee deduct points for the eye pokes?
Despite three documented eye pokes by Ian Machado Garry, referee Marc Goddard issued only verbal warnings, violating standard UFC protocol that mandates a point deduction after three warnings for intentional fouls. The UFC has not explained this deviation, and no post-fight review has been announced, leaving fans and analysts questioning the consistency of officiating at high-stakes events.
Is Ian Machado Garry the rightful #1 contender for the welterweight title?
Yes — by the UFC’s current ranking structure, Garry’s victory over Belal Muhammad, a former interim champion, makes him the top-ranked challenger. With Leon Edwards sidelined and no other top-5 fighter having fought since October, Garry’s undefeated record and dominant striking output leave him as the only logical next opponent for the champion — regardless of the controversy.
Could Islam Makhachev really move up to welterweight to fight Garry?
It’s plausible. Makhachev, the current lightweight champion, has publicly expressed interest in unifying titles. At 33, he’s still in his prime, and moving up to 170 pounds would make him a massive favorite against anyone except perhaps Garry. A fight between them would be the UFC’s next mega-event — but only if the organization chooses to prioritize spectacle over divisional integrity.
How does this affect Belal Muhammad’s career?
Muhammad’s loss drops him out of the top five in the welterweight rankings for the first time since 2021. While he’s still a top-tier fighter with elite grappling and durability, he now needs a win over someone like Khamzat Chimaev or Stephen Thompson to re-enter title contention. His path back is narrower — and more urgent — than ever.
What’s the likelihood of a rematch between Garry and Muhammad?
Unlikely in the short term. The UFC typically avoids rematches unless there’s a clear, decisive reason — like a disputed outcome or injury. Here, the controversy isn’t about the result, but the officiating. A rematch would require the UFC to admit fault, which they’ve shown no inclination to do. Instead, Garry will likely get a title shot, and Muhammad will be pushed into a contender eliminator.
What does this mean for UFC’s officiating standards?
This fight has exposed a dangerous inconsistency in how fouls are handled. If eye pokes — which can cause permanent damage — go unpunished at this level, it sets a precedent that could encourage fighters to take more risks. The UFC must either enforce its own rules uniformly or revise them. Silence now will be seen as complicity.