Firas Zahabi Breaks Down Why Islam Makhachev Could Be Too Much For Ian Machado Garry
Firas Zahabi sees Islam Makhachev retaining his welterweight title at UFC 330, though the TriStar Gym coach does not expect Ian Machado Garry to make it simple. Makhachev and Garry headline Saturday’s card at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, with the champion making his first defense at 170 pounds.
“I’m picking Islam Makhachev, but let me tell you something, this is not going to be an easy fight,” Zahabi said during his UFC 330 breakdown for TriStar Gym.
The longtime coach pointed to Garry’s December 2024 decision loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov as the most useful tape for assessing the Irish contender’s ability to handle a grappling-heavy opponent. Rakhmonov won that five-round fight by unanimous decision, yet Garry gave him difficult moments late and nearly found a submission from his back.
Firas Zahabi Explains Why Islam Makhachev Has The Edge Over Ian Machado Garry
“Ian’s most telling fight is his fight with Shavkat,” Zahabi said. Shavkat held him up against the fence and clinch; however, he wasn’t able to take Ian Garry down in round 1.
The official UFC Stats record supports that detail. Rakhmonov attempted three takedowns in the opening round and landed none, while registering 3:20 of control time. Across five rounds, he completed two of 10 takedown attempts and held 11:41 of control time, which shows how much time Garry spent defending positions and working back to his feet.
Zahabi’s view is that Makhachev presents a harder version of that same problem. The champion built his run at lightweight around takedowns, positional control, submissions and steady pressure before vacating the belt and defeating Jack Della Maddalena to claim the welterweight title last November. Makhachev enters Saturday at 28-1, while Garry is 17-1.
“But we can’t forget Islam Makhachev is incredibly successful in the clinch,” Zahabi said on UFC 330. “As successful as Shavkat is, Islam is even more successful.”
That is the pressure point in Zahabi’s prediction. Garry owns a four-inch reach advantage and has made a career out of range management, straight punches, kicks and movement. The question is whether he can keep Makhachev at the end of those weapons for 25 minutes. UFC Stats lists Garry at 6-foot-3 with a 74-inch reach, compared with Makhachev’s 5-foot-10 frame and 70-inch reach.
Zahabi believes Makhachev can close that distance. “I think Islam can get him to the fence, but take him down,” he said, adding that he considers the champion “more sophisticated” in grappling exchanges. Garry is no stranger to grappling, as his fight with Rakhmonov showed, but Zahabi does not expect that base to deter Makhachev. “Ian Garry’s an excellent grappler, but I don’t think it’s going to faze Islam in the least,” he said.
