Sean Shelby's Shoes: What's next for Ian Machado Garry after UFC 330 loss?

Ian Machado Garry was confident he would defeat Islam Makhachev at UFC 330 to claim the welterweight title. However, he lost the fight by unanimous decision on Saturday at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. Machado Garry (17-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) put up a solid performance, but it wasn't enough to overcome Makhachev's (29-1 MMA, 18-1 UFC) strong showing.

The loss may be tough to swallow, but Machado Garry should use it as an opportunity to grow. He expressed no loss of confidence in himself, which should serve him well going forward. At 28 years old, Machado Garry still has a decade of top-level competition ahead of him, so a title fight is still a possibility. However, Makhachev is considered the top talent in the division, making it difficult for Machado Garry to reach this goal.

There are a few options on the table, such as a matchup with Michael Morales, a former champion like Kamaru Usman, or Jack Della Maddalena. All these opponents have lost more than they have won recently, which could give Machado Garry an opportunity to secure a win and return to title contention.