Ian Garry says he’s agreed to fight Michael Morales and the ‘date is locked’ in new update

Ian Machado Garry has suggested his number-one opponent choice is ducking him.

The top welterweight contender has been targeting a fight with Michael Morales since falling short in a title clash with Islam Makhachev at UFC 330 in August.

Over the weekend, Morales revealed he’s set to return to the Octagon in January and suggested Shavkat Rakhmonov will be his opponent.

The Irishman suffered just his second loss at UFC 330, who should he fight next to get back on track?

On Monday, Ian Machado Garry shared viral footage of him and Michael Morales agreeing to fight each other in the immediate aftermath of UFC 330.

The 28-year-old Irishman added a caption that suggested Morales has bailed on their fight talks.

“I’ve said YES. The date is locked in,” Garry wrote on Instagram.

“Main event and you’re making excuses already. UFC sent the date.

“I dm’d you myself. You make it all public, but behind the scenes I’m getting a different message.

“The world knows I’m anyone, anytime…

“How long has it been since he’s fought?”

Michael Morales hasn’t fought since knocking out Sean Brady inside one round last November.

The 27-year-old recently revealed he’ll return to the Octagon ‘against a very tough opponent’ 14 months after UFC 322.

Fans were left scratching their heads when Carlos Prates and Ian Machado Garry were ruled as opponent options.

“As for my fights, I already have one lined up,” Morales said at a press conference,

“I was in Vegas discussing it because they hadn’t given me a fight for a whole year.

“We were pushing to see if we could fight in December, but it looks like the fight will be in January instead against a very tough opponent. It’s neither Prates or Ian Machado Garry. Neither wants to fight.

“We accepted the January fight, which is my last fight before a title shot. We need to win that fight, and then we’ll fight for the title in June, God willing.”