Welterweight contenders Belal Muhammad and Ian Machado Garry are currently engaged in a war of words, although Muhammad`s approach is notably unconventional.
Both fighters are actively pursuing a shot at the welterweight title, with Muhammad aiming to recover from a recent loss and Garry building momentum after a significant victory. Garry, holding a UFC record of 9-1, is seeking his inaugural title opportunity, while Muhammad hopes to reclaim the championship after his bout at UFC 315.
Garry initiated the verbal exchange by challenging Muhammad via social media to fight at UFC 319 in Chicago this August. He accused Muhammad of deliberately avoiding him by calling out other fighters like Kamaru Usman and Sean Brady, urging him to accept the fight in his hometown rather than “letting his hometown down.”
Muhammad, known for quickly engaging rivals verbally, responded with sharp, yet oddly stilted, trash talk. He ridiculed Garry, comparing him to a cheap imitation (“cosplay”) of Conor McGregor and criticizing his verbal skills as weak, suggesting his “lines hit softer than [his] jab” and advising him to practice his insults.
However, the reason for the peculiar tone was soon revealed. Muhammad disclosed that his harsh words were generated with the help of a ChatGPT prompt, potentially indicating that he is not taking Garry`s challenge entirely seriously, or perhaps simply having fun with the AI tool as part of their back-and-forth.
