Former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards has issued a sharp challenge to fellow contender Ian Machado Garry as speculation mounts over a potential future matchup between the two rivals.

Edwards and Garry, who briefly trained together as part of the same gym, have publicly diverged after Garry’s departure from the team and subsequent rise in the rankings. With both men boasting recent fights on major cards—Edwards at UFC 322 and Garry shortly after—their brewing rivalry has drawn significant attention within the welterweight division.

During an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Edwards directed pointed remarks at Garry, saying, “Ian’s biggest achievement right now, in the sport, is losing to Shavkat.” He added, “That’s facts. That’s his greatest achievement,” further questioning Garry’s readiness and status among elite contenders.

Garry has responded with his own critiques, questioning Edwards’s integrity and signalling a lack of interest in facing him unless the terms are favourable. According to reports, Garry said he had “no interest ever for him to ever earn any money off me.” He also declared he would be rooting for Edwards’s opponent at UFC 322, saying he’d “cheer Carlos Prates on, watching him spark Leon Edwards unconscious.”

If both fighters secure victories in their next outings, the possibility of a showdown between Edwards and Garry could move closer to reality. For now, Edwards is preparing to face Carlos Prates, while Garry is slated for a bout a week later, positioning both men for potential title-contention paths.

Edwards captured the UFC welterweight title with a memorable knockout in 2022 and has since been seeking to re-establish his reign, while Garry has emerged as one of the top contenders without yet challenging for gold. The tension between them adds a personal dimension to the already crowded welterweight landscape.