Ian Machado Garry has cast doubt on reports that UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is sidelined with a hand injury, suggesting the explanation may be an excuse for inactivity.

Speculation about Makhachev’s health has circulated in recent weeks amid discussion about potential bouts tied to a proposed “Freedom 250” event at the White House. UFC CEO Dana White has said the champion is dealing with an injured hand, though Garry, who had been rumored as a possible future opponent before those discussions intensified, said he remains unconvinced.

“Yeah, I heard that too,” Garry said of the reported injury in a social media post, according to Red Corner MMA. “But I don’t believe it. I don’t know what to believe. I can’t imagine he hurt his hand in the last fight with Jack. So maybe he did it while horse riding? I don’t believe it. I think it’s just excuses.”

Garry continued by questioning whether the champion is avoiding a fight, saying inactivity among titleholders can sometimes be strategic. “Everything about me now tells me he doesn’t want to fight, doesn’t want to fight, doesn’t want to fight,” Garry said, according to the same source. “I don’t know if it’s mentally, physically, whatever. He’s doing the typical thing that all champions do when they get the belt. They try and maintain their position, maintain relevancy by not fighting and staying inactive.”

The Irish welterweight also suggested that a bout involving him could change the situation. “When I fight, that all changes,” Garry said.

No fight involving Makhachev has been formally announced, and the timing of his return remains unclear. The uncertainty comes as several high-profile UFC fighters have yet to be booked for bouts in the early months of 2026.

Garry, meanwhile, is awaiting his next matchup in the welterweight division, a weight class that has often drawn criticism from fighters for prolonged periods of inactivity among top contenders.