Ian Garry believes he has what it takes to dethrone Islam Makhachev. Just days after the Dagestani’s first welterweight title defense was made official for UFC 330 on August 15, the Irish contender outlined his ideal game plan during his Matchroom Talent Agency signing press conference.
Rather than chasing an early finish, Garry said he wants to dominate Makhachev over several rounds before securing a statement victory in the fourth. It’s an ambitious prediction, especially considering Makhachev’s dominance in recent years. Garry’s confidence is clear, but calling a finish over Makhachev is a bold claim given his own recent record.
The Irishman hasn’t earned a stoppage victory since submitting Daniel Rodriguez at UFC Charlotte in May 2023. Since then, most of his wins have come via the judges’ scorecards, with nine of his 17 professional victories and seven of his 10 UFC wins ending in decisions. Still, not everyone is dismissing Garry’s chances. Usman Nurmagomedov believes ‘The Future’ is a legitimate threat and has the tools to trouble Makhachev when they meet in Philadelphia.
The reigning PFL lightweight champion admitted Garry is capable of pulling off the upset. Speaking to MMA Junkie, the undefeated Russian said, “Ian Garry is a top guy, and of course he can do something. But I think Islam is going to be prepared for everything. Striking and wrestling.”
Even so, Nurmagomedov believes Makhachev’s all-around skill set will ultimately be too much for the Irish challenger. He explained, “We know Ian Garry has problems with wrestling and grappling. Islam have very good control on the ground, and very good wrestling to take the guy to the ground. He’s now got good striking. It’s a very good fight. In my opinion, it’s a huge fight.”
While Garry heads into UFC 330 with impressive wins over Belal Muhammad and Carlos Prates in his last two outings, the challenge ahead is unlike anything he has faced before. Makhachev is riding a remarkable 16-fight winning streak, tying Anderson Silva for the longest winning streak in UFC history, and hasn’t tasted defeat since 2015.
Before moving up to welterweight, Makhachev cemented his legacy as one of the greatest lightweights in UFC history. He set the divisional record with four successful title defenses while defeating elite opponents such as Alexander Volkanovski, Dustin Poirier, and Renato Moicano. After clearing out the 155-pound division, he vacated the lightweight title in pursuit of a second championship.
He accomplished that goal at UFC 322, dominating Jack Della Maddalena over five rounds to capture the welterweight title by unanimous decision. That run is exactly why Nurmagomedov considers Makhachev the best fighter in the world in 2026. He added, “Yes, in my opinion, Islam is the best fighter in the world right now. What he’s doing, nobody can do. He is now breaking the records with Anderson Silva. Can you imagine that, brother? If he did, nobody ever going to break this.”
Meanwhile, Nurmagomedov has business of his own before UFC 330 arrives. The 21-0 champion will defend his PFL lightweight title against the also undefeated Archie Colgan in the main event of PFL Long Island on July 25 at UBS Arena in New York.
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