Ian Garry calls himself Islam Makhachev's most dangerous opponent ahead of title fight

Ian Garry has set his sights on upsetting Islam Makhachev, declaring himself the most dangerous opponent the welterweight champion has ever faced as their title fight approaches.

Garry pointed to the recent championship losses of Sean Strickland and Justin Gaethje as evidence that no champion is invincible, drawing motivation from both upsets as he maps out his own path to the belt.

Makhachev, 34, enters the contest as the welterweight champion and the top-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the sport. The Russian carries a 28-1 record and is one of the most complete grapplers in the game, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes with a submission attempt rate of 1.1 per 15 minutes. His striking accuracy sits at 58 percent, a figure that underlines his precision even if his volume — 2.63 significant strikes per minute — reflects a measured, control-based style.

Strickland, 35, now holds the middleweight title at 31-7-0, while Gaethje, 37, claimed the lightweight championship with a 28-5-0 record. Garry cited both men's runs as proof that well-timed upsets remain possible at the highest level of the sport.

Garry characterized himself as a more well-rounded competitor with multiple routes to victory, a direct challenge to the narrative that Makhachev's wrestling and submission game make him unbeatable.

Why it matters

• Makhachev's pound-for-pound status means a loss would reshape the divisional landscape at both welterweight and in the broader rankings.
• Garry's framing as a multi-dimensional threat sets up a stylistic contrast against a champion who excels at dictating where fights take place.
• The recent title changes at middleweight and lightweight have added credibility to the idea that elite champions can be dethroned, raising the stakes of Garry's confidence.