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Ian Machado Garry is leaving Philadelphia without UFC gold, but he insists the setback won’t deter him.

Garry challenged Islam Makhachev for the UFC Welterweight Championship this past Saturday. It was “The Future’s” first title opportunity under the UFC banner, and he ended up falling short with a unanimous decision loss. Many agree that Garry had his best work in the third round, but Makhachev was able to swing momentum back to his side thanks to his grappling.

In the aftermath of UFC 330, Garry is holding his head high after surviving a second-round head kick knockdown and going the distance with a pound-for-pound great. He addressed the defeat in a video on his Instagram page (via MMAJunkie).

“Tonight wasn’t my night,” Garry said. “I feel great, I did great, Islam was just better than me tonight, and that’s OK. I want everybody who loves me and supports me and wants to see me do better, I want you to know that I’m gonna be back. I’m not disheartened by this. I’m bulletproof in my mind. I’ll be back. I’m 28 years of age. I just fought arguably the greatest fighter we’ve ever seen in this sport – and I pushed him to the f*cking wire, and I’m so proud of myself, and I’m so proud of my team, and everything that we’ve done. I’m so proud of what I’ve done in this world and who I’ve become; nobody’s stopping me.”

Makhachev said he plans to fight again before Ramadan. Whether that means the 170-pound king will be back before the end of the year or he’ll target a January 2027 showdown remains to be seen. Makhachev said the sooner he can get back inside the Octagon the better because he isn’t getting any younger.

As for Garry, he will now step aside for rising contenders, such as Carlos Prates and Michael Morales. “The Future” will look to regroup with his team and figure out how he can eventually shatter the glass ceiling and capture UFC gold.

What do you make of Ian Machado Garry’s positive outlook amid his UFC 330 loss to Islam Makhachev? Drop a comment below.

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM