Garry responds to Covington, challenges him to loser-leaves-town fight

Rising UFC welterweight Ian Machado Garry believes he's in the driver's seat when it comes to a potential matchup with Colby Covington.

Garry sounded off on Covington in an Instagram video Sunday after the former interim champion called him out last week.

"Listen here, Colby 'Chaos' Covington, you are in no position to tell me what I should be doing in life," Garry said. "You'll do as you're told."

Garry initially expressed interest in squaring off with Covington following a UFC 292 win over Geoff Neal in February.

"You're not America's favorite fighter," Garry said. "What you are is a peak underperformer. You're the only person in UFC (welterweight) history to lose three world title fights. And you haven't got a single win against anybody in the top 15 right now. So, Colby, why should I fight you? I can think of one reason."

Garry increased the stakes and challenged Covington to a loser-leaves-town fight.

"I challenge you to an 'I Quit' match, where one of us has to say, 'I quit,'" Garry said. "And whoever says the words 'I quit' has to retire, gloves off, center of the Octagon, sayonara my friend. I'm going to be the final chapter in your legacy of failure. I'm going to rid the UFC of Colby Covington for good, and I'm going to make MMA great again."

Garry has impressed in his UFC career so far, winning seven straight fights to earn the No. 7 ranking. Covington, meanwhile, is coming off a unanimous decision loss to welterweight champion Leon Edwards at UFC 296 last December.