Ian Garry has pointed to recent upsets over champions Sean Strickland and Justin Gaethje as inspiration heading into his fight with UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. Garry says he is a more well-rounded fighter than Makhachev's previous challengers and believes he presents the most dangerous stylistic matchup for the champion.
Ian Garry has invoked two of the UFC's most notable recent title upsets as fuel for his upcoming challenge against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, arguing that he is better equipped to dethrone the Russian than any fighter the champion has previously faced.
Garry pointed specifically to the wins over Sean Strickland and Justin Gaethje as proof that reigning champions can be beaten, and that the sport continues to produce unexpected results at the highest level. The Irishman described himself as a more well-rounded threat than Makhachev's past opponents and positioned his own stylistic profile as the most dangerous matchup the champion has encountered.
Makhachev, 34, carries a 28-1 record and holds the UFC's pound-for-pound top ranking. The Eagles MMA product is a relentless grappler who averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.1 submission attempts in the same span, with a striking accuracy of 58 percent despite a relatively measured output of 2.63 significant strikes per minute. He fights out of a southpaw stance and stands five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach.
Strickland, 35, holds a 31-7 record and currently wears middleweight gold under the Xtreme Couture banner. The orthodox striker lands a high-volume 6.04 significant strikes per minute and owns a 76-inch reach at six-foot-one. Gaethje, nicknamed The Highlight, is 37 years old and sits at 28-5. The Genesis Training Center product is among the most aggressive forwards in lightweight history, averaging 6.48 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Makhachev's grappling dominance has neutralized most challengers; Garry's claim of superior versatility frames a potential stylistic shift in the matchup
- Both Strickland and Gaethje were considered elite titleholders before their losses, lending credibility to Garry's upset-is-possible argument
- A Garry win would mark one of the most significant lightweight title changes in recent memory given Makhachev's pound-for-pound standing
