Ian Garry calls himself Islam Makhachev's most dangerous opponent

Ian Garry has staked a bold claim ahead of his upcoming fight with Islam Makhachev, declaring himself the most dangerous opponent the lightweight and welterweight champion has ever faced.

Garry made his case by pointing to recent title-fight upsets — including those that ended the reigns of Sean Strickland and Justin Gaethje — as evidence that champions are beatable. The Irish welterweight argued he brings a more complete skill set to the matchup than any challenger Makhachev has previously encountered, and that he sees multiple routes to victory against the Russian.

Makhachev enters the fight as the pound-for-pound number one ranked fighter in the world, carrying a 28-1-0 record across two divisions. The 34-year-old from Russia trains out of Eagles MMA and fights out of a southpaw stance. His grappling credentials are formidable, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.1 submission attempts in the same span, while his striking accuracy sits at an elite 58 percent.

The champions Garry referenced have their own credentials. Strickland, now 31-7-0 at middleweight and 35 years old, is a high-volume striker landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach. Gaethje, 28-5-0 at lightweight and fighting out of Genesis Training Center, leads the trio in output at 6.48 significant strikes per minute, also at 58 percent accuracy.

Why it matters

• Makhachev's 28-1-0 record and pound-for-pound status make him the division's gold standard, raising the stakes of any challenger's claim
• Garry's argument rests on stylistic versatility, suggesting he intends to avoid the grappling-heavy exchanges that have undone previous opponents
• Recent upsets across the sport have reinforced that no champion, regardless of record, is invulnerable heading into a title fight