June 21, 2026, 8:30 p.m. ET
Ian Machado Garry carries the utmost confidence that he will end Islam Makhachev’s historic run at UFC 330.
Machado Garry (17-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) will get his first shot at gold on Aug. 15 when he challenges welterweight champ Makhachev (28-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) in the headliner at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia (Paramount+). It’s an opportunity he’s been waiting some time for, and one he refuses to waste.
It’s a massive task, however, because Makhachev enters the matchup as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, and is riding a 16-fight winning streak in the UFC, tied with Anderson Silva for longest in company history.
Not only does Machado Garry carry faith that he can solve the Makhachev riddle, but he thinks he can overcome the champ in his strongest areas.
“I don’t think Islam has a lot of weaknesses,” Machado Garry said on Instagram. “He’s never fought someone as long and tall as me. He’s not fought someone as fast as me. He’s not fought someone who has the distance management, the boxing capabilities, the head movement that I do, but also the takedown defense. He might get me down. I hope he does, ’cause I want to prove to the world that he can’t submit me. I want to prove to the world that I can get back up. I want to prove to the world that I can beat him in his own world. I don’t care how long he’s trained in that area. I don’t care if he’s an internationally recognized master of Sambo or not.”
Machado Garry has no intention of being another victim to Makhachev at UFC 330. He is being touted as a moderate underdog by oddsmakers, but recent UFC title fights have seen Justin Gaethje upset Ilia Topuria and Sean Strickland topple Khamzat Chimaev.
Nothing is impossible in MMA, and Machado Garry is ready to provide another reminder.
“I’m going to bounce him on his skull,” Machado Garry said. “I’m going to take his title. I’m going to take his throne. And I’m going to finish that consecutive win streak. And I’ll always be the guy that stopped history from happening.”
