Ian Machado Garry defeated Belal Muhammad by unanimous decision to secure a signature win Saturday at UFC Qatar.
The judges scored the fight 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28 in Garry's favor.
The Irish fighter was able to keep Muhammad at bay with his striking and his length. Garry used numerous leg strikes to attack Muhammad's left leg, which showed some bruising.
The fight was stopped twice after Garry poked Muhammad in the eye in the first and second rounds. Garry was warned after each incident but didn't lose a point in either case.
Garry believes his performance in Saturday's co-main event should vault him ahead of the pack to challenge new champion Islam Makhachev.
"Listen, I just beat the No. 1-ranked welterweight on the planet, Belal Muhammad, former champion," Garry said, per UFC on TNT. "There is nobody else above him other than the world champion, Islam Makhachev. Belal couldn't take me down. So Islam, you try and take me down.
"I'm telling you now, I'm the best in the world. You have a duty to defend that belt against the best welterweight on the planet, and you're looking at him."
Garry's record improved to 17-1. He's now 10-1 during his run with the promotion. The 28-year-old defeated Carlos Prates by unanimous decision in April prior to Saturday's victory. Prates knocked out former welterweight champion Leon Edwards in the second round at UFC 322 last weekend.
The 170-pound division has experienced sizable changes in recent weeks. Makhachev defeated Jack Della Maddalena in the main event of UFC 322 to become the new welterweight champion. Top-five contenders Prates and Michael Morales secured highlight-reel finishes in their respective fights Saturday as well.
Muhammad's record falls to 24-5 with his second consecutive loss after dropping his title to Della Maddalena at UFC 315 in May.
