Georges St-Pierre Backs Islam Makhachev Over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330

Georges St-Pierre has thrown his public support behind welterweight champion Islam Makhachev ahead of UFC 330, declaring Makhachev's overall skill set the decisive edge over top contender Ian Machado Garry. The endorsement from one of the sport's most decorated figures adds notable momentum to Makhachev's profile as the August 15 main event approaches.

Makhachev enters the contest as the reigning welterweight champion and the number-one pound-for-pound fighter in the world. The 34-year-old Russian carries a 28-1-0 record and trains out of Eagles MMA. Fighting out of a southpaw stance, he combines elite grappling — averaging 3.2 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes — with a striking accuracy of 58 percent, among the highest in the division.

Garry, who fights under the nickname "The Future," enters as the number-one ranked welterweight contender at just 28 years old with a 17-1-0 record. The orthodox striker stands six-foot-three with a 74-inch reach and brings genuine offensive volume to the cage, landing 4.78 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy — numbers that rank him among the busiest finishers in the weight class.

St-Pierre, the 45-year-old Canadian legend who compiled a 26-2-0 record over his own storied career, cited Makhachev's skills as the central reason for his pick. GSP himself averaged 4.16 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career, giving his tactical read on grappling-heavy champions particular credibility.

Why it matters

• Makhachev holds every major advantage in grappling, while Garry's striking volume gives him a credible path to victory on the feet
• A win for Garry would unseat the pound-for-pound king and reset the welterweight landscape entirely
• St-Pierre's backing amplifies pre-fight attention on a divisional title fight already carrying significant stakes