Ian Garry has publicly stated his belief that he represents the most difficult stylistic challenge for UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. Garry argued that Makhachev's preference for calling out other opponents — including Prates, Morales, and Kamaru Usman — is evidence that the champion is avoiding him. Garry cited his versatility on the feet and on the ground as reasons he poses a unique threat.
Ian Garry has made a bold public declaration, claiming he is the most difficult stylistic matchup available to UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev — and suggesting the champion's willingness to call out other opponents is a deliberate effort to sidestep him.
Garry pointed to his blend of striking versatility and ground competence as the qualities that make him uniquely dangerous to Makhachev. He argued that the champion's recent targeting of fighters such as Prates, Morales, and Kamaru Usman signals a reluctance to engage with what Garry sees as his own more complex threat profile.
Makhachev, 34, carries a 28-1-0 record and holds the welterweight title, having established himself as the number-one pound-for-pound fighter in the sport. The Russian southpaw, who trains out of Eagles MMA, is a suffocating grappler who averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes. He also brings a sharp striking game, landing significant shots at a 58 percent accuracy rate while averaging 2.63 per minute.
Usman, one of the names Garry highlighted as a preferred Makhachev target, is a former welterweight champion operating at 21-4-0. The 39-year-old American, who fights out of Kill Cliff FC, owns a 76-inch reach and generates significant output at 4.36 significant strikes per minute, though he has averaged just 0.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes across his career.
Why it matters
- Garry's callout adds public pressure on Makhachev's team to respond or justify their preferred matchmaking direction
- Makhachev's grappling-heavy style versus Garry's claimed all-around versatility is the core stylistic question at stake
- Any movement in the welterweight title picture affects the broader divisional rankings, with Usman currently sitting eighth in the division
