Islam Makhachev scored the first knockdown of his bout against Ian Garry, sending Garry to the canvas during their live contest.
Islam Makhachev dropped Ian Garry with a knockdown during their live contest on August 12, 2026, marking the first time Makhachev has recorded a knockdown in his professional career.
Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion, entered the bout with a record of 28 wins and one loss. The 34-year-old Russian, who trains out of Eagles MMA, is a southpaw standing five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach. He has built his reputation primarily as a grappler, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes throughout his career. What makes the knockdown notable is that his striking has often been viewed as a complement to his wrestling rather than his primary weapon — yet he lands at a striking accuracy of 58 percent, among the highest in the sport, and connects at a rate of 2.63 significant strikes per minute. Sending Garry to the canvas underscores just how complete his skillset has become.
Ian Garry's details were not available in the verified data at the time of this report, but the welterweight contest places him squarely in the championship picture at 170 pounds.
Why it matters
- Makhachev scoring a knockdown signals continued evolution as a well-rounded striker, not just an elite grappler
- A finish or dominant performance could further cement his standing at the top of the welterweight division
- The result, still unfolding at the time of this report, carries significant title implications at 170 pounds
