Ian Garry says he is the most dangerous challenger Islam Makhachev can face, citing his all-around skill set and multiple paths to victory. Garry pointed to recent upsets by Sean Strickland and Justin Gaethje as inspiration heading into his fight with the champion.
Ian Garry has declared himself the most dangerous opponent Islam Makhachev could face, backing up the bold claim by pointing to his diverse skill set and multiple routes to beating the champion.
Makhachev, 34, enters the fight as one of the most dominant forces in combat sports. The Russian lightweight holds a 28-1 record and currently sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings. Fighting out of a southpaw stance for Eagles MMA, he averages 3.2 takedowns per fifteen minutes and attempts submissions at a rate of 1.1 per fifteen minutes, making him a constant danger on the mat. His 58 percent striking accuracy underscores a technical precision that few opponents have been able to solve.
Garry pointed to recent title upsets as proof that elite champions can be beaten. Sean Strickland, the 35-year-old American middleweight champion out of Xtreme Couture, carries a 31-7 record and has built his name on relentless volume, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach. Justin Gaethje, the 37-year-old lightweight champion from Genesis Training Center, holds a 28-5 record and leads all active champions with 6.48 significant strikes landed per minute, sharing Strickland's 58 percent accuracy mark. Garry cited both men's championship runs as evidence that unconventional challengers can upset the established order.
Why it matters
- Makhachev's elite grappling output — 3.2 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per fifteen minutes — poses a stylistic puzzle for any striker-first opponent
- Garry's argument rests on versatility, suggesting he brings more dimensions than previous challengers
- The Strickland and Gaethje examples show recent precedent for underdog champions dismantling dominant titleholders
