Ian Machado Garry: If UFC 315 longshot comes through, it's 'biggest heist' in history

MONTREAL – Ian Machado Garry's has a dream of pulling off the "biggest heist the UFC's ever had." If only he could bring Danny and Rusty into it … but it's not their fight.

Garry (16-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) is thinking clearly about his chances to leave Montreal as wetlerweight champ after UFC 315 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+), which takes place Saturday at Bell Centre in Montreal.

He's the emergency backup fighter for champ Belal Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) and challenger Jack Della Maddalena (17-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) in the highly improbable chance one of them pulls out this week. And that's the thing about thinking clearly. He knows it's a longer-than-long shot, but still one that has happened.

"It's a whole show – it's an excitement. The whole reason I wanted to be here was an opportunity," Garry told MMA Junkie. "We've seen fights fall through. We've seen recently, three months ago, (title challenger) Arman Tsarukyan and (lightweight champ) Islam (Makhachev). This happens. For me, mentally I'm focused on stepping in and being able to be there. But realistically, I'm just enjoying the week and if they call me and they need me, I'm ready to go.

"We've seen situations where guys weigh in and then something completely out of the norm happens the night before or the morning of. Back cramps and cuts and all these little things – they happen. Love it or hate it, it's part of the sport. Until I walk in and see those two men, I tell you now, I will be bringing my (fight gear) suitcase to the fight night with me, just in case anything happens."

Garry is coming off a win over Carlos Prates in the UFC Kanasas City main event less than two weeks ago. It got him back on track after a decision loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 in a welterweight title eliminator.

But Della Maddalena got the call for Muhammad's first defense when Rakhmonov was not yet ready. And now the coincidence is that even though Garry lost to Rakhmonov, if the improbable did happen and either Muhammad or Della Maddalena couldn't fight, suddenly Garry would have his shot at an "Ocean's Eleven"-level opportunity.

"I think you're talking about the biggest heist the UFC's ever had – the biggest heist: Back-to-back-to-back short-notice fights against three of the most dangerous (fighters)," Garry said. "Whether it be Jack or Belal, I'll be fighting one of the most dangerous guys in the division. And I'll win that world title and it'll be the biggest heist in this division."

Check out Garry's full interview above.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 315: Ian Machado Garry knows odds he'll step in are slim