Makhachev weighs in on Ian Machado Garry's fighting style ahead of UFC 330

Islam Makhachev has gone on record with his thoughts on Ian Machado Garry's fighting style as their UFC 330 collision on August 15 moves closer, adding fresh fuel to one of the most anticipated welterweight title bouts in recent memory.

Makhachev enters the contest as welterweight champion and the number-one pound-for-pound fighter in the sport. The 34-year-old Russian, who trains out of Eagles MMA, carries a 28-1-0 record and brings a suffocating grappling-first game to the division. He averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 1.1 submission attempts in the same span, all while posting a striking accuracy of 58 percent — one of the highest marks in the game. Standing five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach, Makhachev operates as a southpaw and keeps his output measured, landing 2.63 significant strikes per minute.

His opponent, Garry — known as "The Future" — is the number-one ranked welterweight contender and brings a starkly different profile. The 28-year-old owns a 17-1-0 record and is built for range and volume, standing six-foot-three with a 74-inch reach. He lands 4.78 significant strikes per minute, nearly double Makhachev's output, and works from an orthodox stance. His grappling numbers are modest by comparison, with under one takedown per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• Makhachev's public assessment signals he is actively studying Garry ahead of the August 15 date, raising the tactical stakes of the camp.
• The size gap is significant — Garry holds a five-inch height advantage and a four-inch reach advantage over the champion.
• Style contrast is stark: Makhachev's elite grappling meets one of the division's highest-volume strikers, making positioning and range control central to the outcome.
• At 28, Garry would become the youngest welterweight champion in this era if he wins; Makhachev is defending his status as the sport's top-ranked fighter overall.