Ian Garry calls himself Islam Makhachev's most dangerous opponent

Ian Garry has declared himself the most dangerous opponent Islam Makhachev could face, pointing to recent title upsets in other divisions as fuel for his belief ahead of their upcoming fight.

Garry cited the shocking losses suffered by Sean Strickland and Justin Gaethje as proof that established champions are not untouchable, framing those results as direct inspiration for his own challenge. He argued that his versatility and the variety of paths available to him make him uniquely threatening to the reigning champion.

Makhachev, 34, enters the fight as the welterweight champion and the top-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world, carrying a 28-1-0 record. The Russian southpaw, who trains out of Eagles MMA, is one of the most efficient grapplers in the sport, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes. His striking accuracy sits at 58 percent, a figure that reflects the control he typically imposes on opponents.

The two champions Garry referenced have had contrasting fortunes. Strickland, the 35-year-old American out of Xtreme Couture, holds a 31-7-0 record and is the current middleweight champion, landing an extraordinary 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach. Gaethje, 37, now holds the lightweight title at 28-5-0 and is among the most prolific strikers in the sport at 6.48 significant strikes per minute.

Why it matters

• Makhachev's pound-for-pound status means a loss would send significant shockwaves through the rankings across multiple divisions
• Garry's self-described versatility sets up a stylistic contrast with Makhachev's grappling-heavy, high-accuracy approach
• The recent upsets Garry referenced show that champion longevity is no guarantee, adding genuine weight to his framing