Ian Garry tells Michael Morales to move up, gets blunt reply

Ian Garry thinks Michael Morales should leave the welterweight division behind, and Morales has a two-word answer for him.

Garry, who challenges Islam Makhachev for the 170-pound title at UFC 330 on Aug. 15 in Philadelphia, told Ariel Helwani that Morales would be better off at middleweight. The top-ranked contender argued that Carlos Prates has done more to earn the next shot after Garry, leaving Morales stuck in a logjam. "If I was Michael Morales, you know what my advice would be to him? Go up to 185," Garry said, per MMA Mania. "Because you're young, you're big, you're somewhat talented. There is a lack of stars up there in the sport."

Morales fires back at Garry's suggestion

Morales, undefeated and coming off a destruction of Sean Brady in his most recent outing, responded on Instagram with a blunt message. "I just want to say one thing to Ian Garry," he said. "Suck it."

Garry's reasoning hinges on the welterweight pecking order. He holds a win over Prates, who scored back-to-back knockouts of former UFC champions but got boxed out of title contention. Morales has been sidelined for nine months and could wait at least that long again depending on when Garry defends against Prates or Shavkat Rakhmonov. Still, Garry acknowledged the danger Morales poses at 170. "If he wants to stay at 170, I'll punch a hole in his head at some point," he said.

The exchange sets up a potential grudge match if Garry survives Makhachev. Morales made clear he has no plans to vacate the division anytime soon.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — UFC 330’s Ian Garry suggests Michael Morales moves up to Middleweight, Morales responds – ‘Suck it’