It seems Ian Machado Garry’s amiability might be working against him.
Critics were quick to point this out after UFC 330, where Islam Makhachev reigned supreme, defending his welterweight title by unanimous decision. Garry, appearing in his first championship bout, seemed to lack the aggression anticipated at such a pivotal moment.
UFC President Dana White was among those who felt Garry fell short, expressing his thoughts candidly during the post-event media briefing.
“Here’s what I honestly believe; tonight was primed for an upset,” White remarked at the UFC 330 post-fight interview. “With so much at stake, including all of Islam’s records and his aim to surpass Anderson Silva, it seemed possible. There’s a reason for weight classes. Ian Garry is tall, strong, and has excellent takedown defense. Just look at how he fended off Islam tonight; it was remarkable.”
White further elaborated, “Ian possesses talent. Had he embraced a touch of killer instinct in that final round—he was landing body shots effectively. Islam’s right side took a beating, his face showed it. At such a crucial point, you don’t exchange pleasantries. That complacency makes me insane given what was on the line.”
Makhachev himself lent voice to this following the victory, in which he led 49-46 on two scorecards and 48-47 on the third.
“Honestly, I don’t understand,” Makhachev said about Garry. “This is a fight. This is not something we have to hug each other every round. We’re going to war. We’re going to break the face, to break the eye. I respect all my opponents. But [maybe he’s young]. He respects too much.”
Makhachev added that he still thinks highly of Garry, but ultimately echoed White’s sentiment.
“I respect him. He’s a good guy. Very kind. But this is a war,” the champion said. “Look at my face. I just come to beat everything. It’s not something you have to play. This is a fight. This is not a game.”
White later said in his presser that he wishes he could replay at least the final round of the bout.
“There’s also a lot of mental gamesmanship, whatever you want to call it, in this game,” said White. “You come out in that fifth round with a flying knee or something crazy, and you try to finish the fight. I think that this is one of those fights that Ian will go back and watch and say, ‘F–k, I wish I could do that over again.’”
With the win, Makhachev, 34, broke Silva’s record for the longest-winning streak in UFC history with 17.
The win improved Makhachev’s record to 29-1, with his only loss coming in his second UFC appearance back in October of 2015, where he was knocked out by MMA journeyman Adriano Martins.
Garry, 28, dropped to 17-2, with losses in two of his last four bouts.