Ian Garry calls himself Islam Makhachev's most dangerous opponent

Ian Garry has declared himself the most dangerous opponent Islam Makhachev has ever faced, making the bold claim publicly ahead of their upcoming welterweight title fight.

Garry pointed to recent championship upsets as proof that elite champions are not untouchable. He cited Sean Strickland and Justin Gaethje as fighters who defied expectations to win gold, and framed their success as a blueprint for what he intends to do against Makhachev. The Irishman argued he brings more versatility and more paths to victory than anyone Makhachev has previously encountered.

Makhachev, 34, carries a 28-1-0 record and holds the welterweight title while also ranking as the number-one pound-for-pound fighter in the world. The Russian southpaw is a dominant grappler, averaging 3.2 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, and connects on 58 percent of his significant strikes. His lone career loss remains the only blemish on an otherwise commanding resume.

Strickland, the fighter Garry referenced as one source of inspiration, is the reigning middleweight champion at 35 years old with a 31-7-0 record. The Xtreme Couture product is one of the busiest strikers in the UFC, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute. Gaethje, 37, holds the lightweight title with a 28-5-0 record and leads all three men in striking output at 6.48 significant strikes per minute, connecting at 58 percent accuracy.

Why it matters

• Garry's claim raises the stakes of the welterweight title fight considerably, framing it as a generational challenge to the division's ruler
• Makhachev's grappling dominance will be a central stylistic question given Garry's emphasis on being a multi-dimensional fighter
• Both Strickland and Gaethje winning titles as notable underdogs gives Garry's argument at least some historical grounding