Ian Machado Garry’s Missed Opportunity Against Islam Makhachev

Ian Machado Garry’s fight with Islam Makhachev at UFC 330 drew attention despite his absence from recent events, including Saturday’s UFC Fight Night. The bout was for Makhachev’s coveted UFC Welterweight Championship.

UFC CEO Dana White, Makhachev, and others critiqued Garry for lacking the necessary aggression, which they believed was crucial to securing a victory. White has stood by his statements, though he clarified some details when questioned by the media after Saturday’s fight.

An inference from a reporter suggested White wanted Garry to annihilate Makhachev. White responded, “I didn’t say that I’d like for him to do that. What I said was you get this opportunity; you’ve worked your whole life to get there.”

White expressed disappointment that Garry, who he felt was executing an effective strategy through the first four rounds, chose a less aggressive approach in the fifth round. He added, “Tell him how great he is when they’re putting the belt on you. Ian might never have that opportunity again.”

Makhachev retained his title by unanimous decision, agreeing with White’s assessment of Garry’s performance. Despite this, Garry has received acclaim as a skilled MMA fighter. He boasts an impressive record, with 17 wins out of 19 fights. The only recent loss was to Makhachev, a top-tier competitor.

The UFC Meta rankings place Garry as the number two welterweight fighter, just behind Carlos Prates. Interestingly, Garry defeated Prates via unanimous decision at a UFC on ESPN event in April 2025. This win suggests Garry could warrant another title shot in the future.