TJ Dillashaw criticizes Ian Machado Garry's approach against Islam Makhachev
The former UFC champion believes Garry had the skills to challenge Makhachev but lacked the offensive mindset needed to win.
Last week, Ian Machado Garry challenged Islam Makhachev for the welterweight title at UFC 330. Now, TJ Dillashaw has offered his assessment of the Irishman's performance. While acknowledging Garry's abilities, the former UFC bantamweight champion argued that he spent too much of the matchup trying to survive Makhachev's wrestling instead of fighting with the offensive mindset needed to win.
TJ Dillashaw Criticizes Ian Machado Garry's Approach
It was no secret that Makhachev would rely on his elite wrestling and high-pressure style to control the fight against Garry. Although the Irish fighter was able to defend some of the Russian's takedown attempts, Dillashaw believes Garry became too focused on surviving Makhachev's pressure instead of turning those moments into opportunities to create offense.
"I feel like Ian Garry was fighting to survive and not to win," Dillashaw said on the JAXXON PODCAST. "He was just happy with not getting smothered, getting taken down and getting embarrassed. He just wanted to survive when he should have had more offense. He should have had more volume, getting outside the shoulders, not standing in front of the guy, using his range. So much he could have done differently there."
TJ Dillashaw Sees Mindset, Not Skill, As The Problem
Despite Garry's loss in a fight where he was largely dominated by the Russian, Dillashaw still believes the Irishman has the ability to compete with Makhachev. In fact, the former champion made it clear that he does not believe Garry lacked the technical ability to challenge the UFC welterweight champion. Instead, Dillashaw argued that the problem was his mentality after successfully defending or escaping Makhachev's grappling exchanges.
"I don't think it's the skill set," Dillashaw said. "I think it's the mindset. I think he's skillful enough. You've got to have that killer instinct. You've got to have that 'F*ck you' attitude. 'I got out of a takedown, I scrambled out, I got all that effort out, and now I'm going to f*cking light you up,' rather than space, relax."
