Ian Machado Garry is set for the biggest fight of his career, as he will challenge welterweight champion Islam Makhachev in the main event of UFC 330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
Garry enters the title shot with a 17-1 professional record, including 10-1 in the UFC, while Makhachev brings a 28-1 overall mark and a 17-1 UFC slate into his latest defense. Makhachev claimed the welterweight belt by defeating Jack Della Maddalena on the ground at UFC 322 and has also captured a second UFC title after defending his lightweight crown four times.
Garry, who has been compared to UFC superstar Conor McGregor since early in his career, referenced McGregor’s rise when discussing his own opportunity. "When Conor fought for his first UFC world title, he fought the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter who hadn't been beaten for a decade, and he knocked him out in 13 seconds," Garry said.
"I cannot wait to step into the octagon against Islam Makhachev and beat him because there will be no doubt that I have done it against the best," Garry added. "To be the best, you have to beat the best, and my next opponent right now is regarded by everyone in the world as the No. 1-ranked pound-for-pound fighter on the planet. Make no excuses, there will be no doubt after the fight, I just want it to be known that Ian Machado Garry is great."
Garry also broke down the champion’s style: "He is a phenomenal wrestler, a phenomenal grappler, and if you allow him the ability to stay on top and utilize his grappling and his wrestling, he can suffocate you and just lie on you like a weighted blanket, and you'll just find it hard to move," he said. "That's not fun for anyone. It's not fun for me, it shouldn't be fun for him, and it's definitely not fun for anyone watching. And he did exactly that to win the world title fight, and I feel like that's the worst-case scenario."
