Ian Machado Garry reveals what his "worst-case scenario" could be against Islam Makhachev at UFC 330

Ian Machado Garry has put forth his hypothesis on the worst-case scenario that he believes he could encounter against Islam Makhachev inside the octagon. 

Garry also directed significant criticism at Makhachev's fighting style. The striking maestro signaled that the welterweight titleholder usually adopts a safe but boring approach to his fights. 

Ian Machado Garry eyes maiden UFC title win by beating grappling extraordinaire Islam Makhachev

Ian Machado Garry, who's long been hailed as a future champion, is booked to fight former UFC lightweight titlist and reigning UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev for the latter's welterweight belt.

The Irishman has vowed to dethrone Dagestan's Makhachev and emerge as the new UFC welterweight champ when they clash in the headlining match of UFC 330 in Philadelphia on August 15. 

A number of fans have emphasized that it could play out as a classic striker vs. grappler stylistic clash, with Garry's technical striking skills being pit against Makhachev's fearsome grappling. 

Ian Machado Garry discusses the worst-case scenario heading into title showdown against Islam Makhachev at UFC 330

Expounding upon various topics on the High Performance podcast, Ian Machado Garry recently took aim at his next opponent's fighting prowess. 

Upon being questioned about what's the worst he sees when going into UFC 330 against Islam Makhachev, Garry sounded off on the Dagestani fighter's grappling-heavy style. Speaking about their title fight that's scheduled for five five-minute rounds, Garry stated: 

"Being held down for 25 minutes and just having a boring fight. He's a phenomenal wrestler, a phenomenal grappler. And if you allow him the ability to stay on top and utilize his grappling and wrestling, he can suffocate you. He'll just lie on you like a weighted blanket, and you'll just find it so hard to move." 

He added, "And I'm like, 'It's not fun for anyone.'" The Irishman indicated that it wouldn't be fun for himself, adding that it mustn't be fun for Makhachev as well, and the fans surely wouldn't be entertained by it. 

Seemingly referencing Makhachev's grappling-heavy strategy in his welterweight title-winning performance against striking savant Jack Della Maddalena last year, Garry said: 

"And he (Islam Makhachev) did exactly that to win the world title fight. And I feel like that's the worst-case scenario. Because the best in the world lose fights by getting knocked out or getting submitted." 

Furthermore, Garry labeled MMA as "a very recency bias sport," which he deemed to be unlike boxing. He appeared to opine that, in mixed martial arts, one's lost fan-following stemming from a defeat can be regained by notching a win. 

For context, many believe that a loss in boxing is generally held against the fighter for a considerable period of time, sometimes forever.

On the contrary, MMA fighters get more leeway even after having lost because the myriad of variables in MMA make staying undefeated, especially at the high level, nigh impossible. 

On that note, Garry urged fighters to fight with the primary objective of winning rather than prioritizing not losing and playing it safe.

"The Future" thereby insinuated that Makhachev has a proclivity for playing it safe in his fights, with a grappling style that stalls the action in lieu of pursuing the finish. 

Watch Ian Machado Garry discuss the worst-case scenario for himself in his imminent clash against Islam Makhachev below (*comments at the 11:50-minute mark of the video):