Ian Garry calls himself Islam Makhachev's most dangerous opponent

Ian Garry has made his position clear ahead of his upcoming fight with Islam Makhachev, declaring himself the most dangerous opponent the lightweight champion has ever faced.

Garry made the bold claim in a recent interview, pointing to the recent title upsets that dethroned Sean Strickland and Justin Gaethje as proof that no champion is untouchable. The Irish welterweight argued that he brings more tools and more paths to victory than any challenger Makhachev has encountered to this point.

Makhachev enters the fight as the undisputed welterweight champion and the pound-for-pound number one fighter in the world, carrying a 28-1-0 record at 34 years old. The Russian southpaw, who trains out of Eagles MMA, is one of the sport's elite grapplers, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes. His striking accuracy sits at an impressive 58 percent.

The champions Garry referenced as inspiration have their own formidable credentials. Sean Strickland, the 35-year-old middleweight champion from the United States, holds a 31-7-0 record and is one of the highest-volume strikers in the sport at 6.04 significant strikes landed per minute. Justin Gaethje, the 37-year-old lightweight champion with a 28-5-0 record, is similarly aggressive, averaging 6.48 significant strikes per minute with a 58 percent accuracy rate.

Why it matters

• Makhachev's pound-for-pound number one status means a loss would reshape the divisional landscape entirely
• Garry's well-rounded skillset argument directly challenges Makhachev's reputation as a near-unsolvable stylistic puzzle
• The recent high-profile title upsets he cited suggest the sport is in a volatile moment for championship reigns