Ian Machado Garry, after defeating Belal Muhammad at UFC Qatar, was involved in an unexpected backstage altercation with Khamzat Chimaev, who shoved him despite a seemingly innocuous exchange.
Ian Machado Garry had just wrapped up a victory over Belal Muhammad at UFC Qatar. Then, out of nowhere, he found himself in a scuffle with UFC middleweight champ Khamzat Chimaev.
Backstage, Garry was chatting with Chimaev after congratulating Arman Tsarukyan on his win against Dan Hooker. Everything seemed friendly until Garry turned to leave for the post-fight press conference. Suddenly, security stepped in between him and Chimaev.
“He’s not going to fight me. He’s good,” Garry reassured the UFC official trying to keep the peace. But in a blink, Chimaev reached over and shoved Garry, sparking an unexpected altercation.
“That’s just childish,” Garry yelled. “You’re meant to be a champion. Your friend just won, don’t ruin his victory. Arman, congratulations.”
What triggered the shove? It’s unclear. The conversation didn’t seem heated until Garry mentioned Chimaev wouldn’t fight him, prompting the shove.
Unlike the infamous “three piece and a soda” incident with Jorge Masvidal and Leon Edwards, this clash didn’t escalate to punches. Still, it was a strange scene, considering the seemingly harmless exchange before Chimaev’s sudden move.