Michael Chiesa sees a steep climb ahead for Ian Machado Garry as the Irish contender prepares to challenge Islam Makhachev for the welterweight title in the UFC 330 main event on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
Garry enters the bout at 17-1 in MMA and 10-1 in the UFC, riding back-to-back wins over Carlos Prates and Belal Muhammad after a loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310. Makhachev, 28-1 overall and 17-1 in the UFC, will be attempting to break the record for most consecutive wins in UFC history.
Chiesa, speaking to MMA Junkie, made his stance clear on the matchup. “I think that Islam Makhachev beats Ian Machado Garry, and I don't see a world where Carlos Prates beats Islam Makhachev,” he said, later adding, “I think he's just better everywhere.”
Chiesa highlighted Makhachev’s wrestling as a key factor. “If things go south on the feet, there's no way he doesn't take Ian Garry down. These guys are just different. You don't understand. These guys coming out of the Eastern Blok of the world spent their entire lives wrestling.” He continued, “That's going to be the biggest struggle for Ian.”
Looking at Makhachev’s trajectory, Chiesa said, “He wins this one, you can definitely put in the talks of greatest of all time,” and went on to say there is “a world where we start talking about Islam Makhachev being the greatest of all time over Jon Jones, and over everyone where else.”
