Dana White unhappy with Ian Garry's approach in close Islam Makhachev title fight

Dana White is reportedly still unhappy with Ian Garry after the Irishman's narrow loss to Islam Makhachev in their welterweight title fight, with the UFC boss taking issue with the way Garry approached the closing stages.

According to the story, White was displeased with Garry's approach heading into the fifth round, a stage where many fans felt the fight could have been won rather than lost. Garry was very respectful toward Makhachev and his team before and during the contest. White, however, wanted the hugs and handshakes saved for after the final bell.

The result still marks a milestone for Garry, who became the second Irish man to compete for a UFC world title, following Conor McGregor.

The champion

Makhachev, a 34-year-old Russian fighter out of Eagles MMA, entered the fight as welterweight champion with a 29-1 record. A southpaw who stands five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach, he lands 2.27 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. His grappling remains the backbone of his game, averaging 3.22 takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.9 submission attempts over the same span.

The challenger

Garry, 28, is the division's top-ranked contender at 17-2. Nicknamed "The Future," the orthodox fighter is six-foot-three with a 74-inch reach, a clear size advantage over the champion. His striking output is the stronger of the two: 4.29 significant strikes landed per minute at 53 percent accuracy. He is a lesser factor on the mat, averaging 0.8 takedowns and 0.3 submission attempts per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• Garry came close to a world title in his first shot, and the debate over the fifth round will follow him into whatever comes next.
• White's reported criticism of Garry's mindset adds a layer to the Irishman's relationship with the promotion.
• As the division's number-one contender, Garry remains firmly in the title picture despite the loss.