Steve Garcia doesn’t wish to sit round complaining an excessive amount of however he’s grown pissed off by the shortage of motion within the featherweight division just lately.
Present champion Alexander Volkanovski solely fought as soon as in 2025 when he claimed the vacant title with a win over Diego Lopes again in April. Whereas there are rumors that Volkanovski is predicted to return in February with a possible UFC present heading to Australia, there’s nonetheless no actual phrase on when he may combat once more or who’s really going to get the shot at his belt.
There are quite a few contenders vying for that chance and Garcia needs everyone would simply focus on staying busy slightly than holding out hope {that a} title shot is awaiting them.
“The featherweight division is type of placed on maintain. It’s driving me nuts,” Garcia advised MMA Figthing. “All people thinks they’re getting the subsequent title shot from [No. 6] under. They’ll solely need one particular person to face [Alexander Volkanovski]. You guys need to combat anyway so why don’t you retain combating? However everyone thinks they’re going to get the subsequent shot.
“That’s simply not the way it works. On the finish, I can solely management what I can management and that signifies that I simply preserve combating. That’s how I make my cash. That’s how I present for my household. That’s how I get my title on the market.”
High-ranked contender Movsar Evloev may appear to be the logical option to get a title shot, nevertheless it nearly looks as if a foregone conclusion that he’s going to get omitted. Lopes made a compelling case for a rematch in opposition to Volkanovski after he took out extremely touted Brazilian fighter Jean Silva after which Aljamain Sterling additionally known as for his personal title shot off a win over Brian Ortega.
There’s additionally Lerone Murphy, who stays undefeated and simply delivered a possible Knockout of the Yr along with his win over Aaron Pico.
That’s a complete lot of individuals asking for the subsequent title shot, with solely one in every of them really getting it. For his half, Garcia believes the motivation for everyone asking to combat Volkanovski slightly than simply dealing with the subsequent particular person in line is because of a perceived vulnerability within the UFC featherweight champion.
“The Volk that we noticed combat Diego Lopes is a beatable Volk,” Garcia stated. ‘I feel they’re type of licking their chops. He didn’t appear to be the Volk of outdated. To not me. In my head, I may go beat Volk subsequent week. Sadly, I’ve bought to earn my stripes to get there. I perceive that. However everyone else is doing the identical factor and I’m one other particular person within the herd that’s making an attempt to do precisely what everyone else is making an attempt to do within the rankings.
“We wish to get to that high spot. Some folks get it quicker than others. My luck, I’ve bought to undergo everyone and that’s OK.”
Whereas he’s by no means been essentially the most vocal fighter on the roster, Garcia did specific some anger over sure athletes getting alternatives that haven’t essentially been earned whereas he’s scratching and clawing his manner up the rankings.
Maybe the most effective instance was Aaron Pico signing with the UFC as a free agent after which instantly getting booked in opposition to Evloev, finally dealing with Murphy in his debut and not using a single combat of UFC expertise below his belt. Whereas Pico delivered an ultra-exciting efficiency, he in the end suffered a brutal knockout after Murphy clocked him with a brutal spinning again elbow.
There’s additionally former Bellator featherweight champion Patricio Pitbull signing with the UFC and getting a matchup in opposition to Yair Rodriguez on his first day at work with the brand new promotion. Pitbull additionally misplaced and his efficiency undoubtedly appeared uninspired, no less than primarily based on getting such an incredible alternative in a debut combat.
“The issue is that I’ve been in each organizations so I really feel I can elaborate on each of them,” Garcia defined. “You come to the UFC from Bellator, it’s completely different. The lights are completely different. The magnitude’s completely different. The followers are larger. There’s extra at stake. It’s simply lots of strain. There’s much more to it than simply being at a company like Bellator. They handled me high quality. I wasn’t in a nasty state of affairs over there however UFC is prime. You come to the largest group, it’s like one in every of my buddies Patchy Combine. He hasn’t had the most effective displaying however in Bellator he seemed superb. What’s loopy is I do know the potential of Patchy and Patchy, I don’t know what’s happening with him. I don’t know if it’s a head factor, I don’t know if the lights however coming over, it’s only a completely different state of affairs. Some folks adapt, some folks don’t
“[Patricio Pitbull] actually had nearly a No. 1 contender combat and also you blew it. It’s type of exhausting as a result of I don’t have the Dana White privilege. I don’t get that chance. I’ve to knock everyone out on the way in which nevertheless it simply goes to indicate the UFC’s at a unique degree and the fighters on the UFC are a unique caliber. I really feel like perhaps their opposition wouldn’t be capable of compere right here both and so they’re those that have been successful in these bouts. Who is aware of. It’s exhausting to inform. UFC is a unique beast. It truly is.”
Don’t take something Garcia says as jealousy brimming to the floor after he quietly constructed a six-fight win streak with 5 of these ending by knockout. As an alternative, Garcia has accepted that he may need to work twice as exhausting because the man simply forward of him or behind him within the rankings however that’s simply the game.
The following step comes at UFC Vegas 110 on Saturday when he faces David Onama in the principle occasion.
“For me, I don’t have the largest mouth. So I’ve bought to ensure I do it one way or the other,” Garcia defined. “I feel folks love knockouts so I’m going to present these folks precisely what they need. Why do they tune into UFC? As a result of they wish to see that. I’m going to be the man that they tune into to observe that.”
