Ian Garry calls himself Islam Makhachev's most dangerous opponent

Ian Garry has publicly declared himself the most dangerous challenger Islam Makhachev has ever faced, citing a string of high-profile upsets across the UFC as proof that no champion is untouchable.

Makhachev, 34, enters the fight as the reigning welterweight champion and the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world, carrying a 28-1-0 record. The Russian southpaw out of Eagles MMA is one of the most complete fighters in the sport, landing 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and attempting 1.1 submissions in that same span. His striking accuracy sits at an elite 58 percent, making him dangerous whether the fight stays standing or hits the canvas.

Garry, however, is not buying into the aura. The Irishman pointed specifically to recent title-fight shocks — Sean Strickland's rise to middleweight champion and Justin Gaethje's run to lightweight gold — as evidence that motivated, well-rounded challengers can topple elite champions. Strickland, now 31-7-0 at 35 years old, has built his reputation on relentless volume, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute. Gaethje, 37, is even busier at 6.48 significant strikes landed per minute with a 28-5-0 record as the reigning lightweight champion.

Garry's argument is that those upsets reflect a broader truth: preparation and stylistic variety matter more than reputation. He insists he brings more paths to victory than any previous Makhachev opponent.

Why it matters

• Makhachev's dominance in both the grappling and striking departments makes any challenger's path narrow and steep
• Garry's claim of being more well-rounded than previous opponents directly challenges the conventional wisdom around this fight
• A credible upset narrative, backed by recent cross-divisional shocks, could elevate the bout's profile heading into fight week