Ian Garry has laid out his ideal game plan for his fight against Islam Makhachev, saying he wants no early knockout and is targeting a finish in the fourth round. Garry said he plans to spend the first three rounds dominating before announcing the stoppage and delivering it. He added that a quick finish would leave room for excuses, and he intends to remove any doubt.
Ian Garry has outlined a detailed blueprint for his upcoming fight against welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, expressing a clear preference for a statement victory over a quick finish.
Speaking publicly about the matchup, Garry said he has no interest in ending the fight early. His stated plan is to spend the first three rounds controlling and dominating Makhachev before announcing the stoppage ahead of time and then delivering it. Garry argued that a rapid finish would only create space for excuses, and he wants to leave no room for doubt about the result.
Islam Makhachev enters the contest as the reigning welterweight champion with a record of 28 wins and 1 loss. The 34-year-old Russian, who trains out of Eagles MMA, is widely regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world and carries a physically compact frame at five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach. Fighting out of a southpaw stance, Makhachev is a cerebral and methodical competitor who averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, with a striking accuracy of 58 percent.
Why it matters
- Makhachev is the reigning welterweight champion, making this a title fight with full divisional stakes
- Garry's stated game plan — sustained dominance over four rounds — sets up a stark contrast in styles against a champion built on wrestling and submission grappling
- A win for either fighter would carry significant pound-for-pound implications, given Makhachev's current status at the top of the divisional rankings
