A prominent UFC welterweight contender has offered his perspective on who should face Islam Makhachev next and which fighter possesses the qualities to challenge Makhachev’s supremacy.
The current 170-pound champion, who also holds the top spot in the pound-for-pound rankings, is anticipated to make his next title defense in August. Although Makhachev sustained a hand injury recently, recent training footage suggests his recovery is complete, and he is preparing for his upcoming bout.
Among the potential contenders mentioned are Ian Machado Garry and Michael Morales.
Gilbert Burns Discusses Who Has the Best Chance to Unseat Islam Makhachev
Despite his first-round knockout loss to Michael Morales in a welterweight bout in 2025, Gilbert Burns believes the undefeated Ecuadorian would present a manageable challenge for Islam Makhachev.
In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, when asked about his opinion on who could dethrone the Dagestani wrestling phenom, Gilbert Burns stated:
“I believe Ian [Machado] Garry represents a very difficult fight for Islam [Makhachev]. He is incredibly fast, very quick, with dangerous knees, and his jiu-jitsu is continually improving. In my opinion, Ian Garry and Kamaru Usman present formidable challenges for Islam Makhachev, far from being easy matchups. They are tall, physically imposing, possess significant reach, and have considerable experience.”
Regarding Michael Morales, Burns acknowledged that Morales is physically imposing and possesses knockout power. However, he suggested that Makhachev’s superior skillset in grappling and control would likely allow him to neutralize Morales and potentially secure a late submission if they were to face each other.
Burns, meanwhile, is currently on a four-fight losing streak and aims to get back into the win column this weekend at UFC Winnipeg, where he is scheduled to face Mike Malott in the main event.
