"Take his 0" - Ian Machado Garry issues stark warning to Khamzat Chimaev over "skinny kid" comment

Ian Machado Garry has responded to some fighting words dealt out by Khamzat Chimaev on social media. 'Borz' made some headlines for a recent tweet which, when translated from Russian via Google, saw him place the surging welterweight contender in his crosshairs.

That message on X caught the attention of many on social media, as Chimaev said,

"You're too skinny kid, don't go near the Wolf's teeth, you'll end up headless."

During a UFC Europe promotional video, with X account @ChampRDS sharing a clip from the overall video, Ian Machado Garry read out Chimaev's tweet as part of the segment and retorted,

"Khamzat Chimaev, someone who, one day, I want to take his 0 too. Ian Garry, you're too skinny kid, don't go near the Wolf's teeth, you'll end up headless. Okay, well then when the time comes, be ready to back it up."

The rhetoric between these two has been ramping up lately with Machado Garry appearing on The Ariel Helwani Show to outline a plan he has to defeat Shavkat Rakhmonov this weekend at UFC 310, capture the welterweight title, and then pursue Chimaev at middleweight thereafter.

Check out the video of Machado Garry responding to Chimaev's threat below:

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Ian Machado Garry's three-fight plan and Rakhmonov's response

Ian Machado Garry is living up to his nickname and truly looking toward 'The Future' with his three-fight arc concept. But his adversary on Saturday night feels like he's looking a bit too far ahead. Shavkat Rakhmonov spoke with MMA Fighting about this matter and stated how he felt like Machado Garry would stumble in the first step of his ambitious plan.

The 27-year-old is an undefeated professional mixed martial artist and Rakhmonov is also unbeaten, with each combatant presenting a stiff test for the other. Machado Garry's call for a title shot should he win here does make sense in the context that Rakhmonov was supposed to challenge for the welterweight belt on Saturday night.

That was until 170-pound titleholder Belal Muhammad had to pull out of the bout with a bone infection, which created the vacancy that Ian Machado Garry has since capitalized on.

The Dublin native would finish out his 2024 campaign by going 3-0 if he gets his ideal outcome this weekend. Machado Garry has garnered wins over the likes of Geoff Neal and Michael 'Venom' Page this calendar year. Conversely, this will be Rakhmonov's first fight of 2024.