Ian Garry Dangerous On Feet But Would Not Survive Islam Makhachev’s Grappling Warns MMA Coach
Islam Makhachev’s coach believes Ian Garry would be heavily outmatched in a potential fight with the Dagestani.
Makhachev secured the welterweight title with a commanding, wrestling-driven performance over Jack Della Maddalena via unanimous decision at UFC 322 this past November.
After the victory, attention quickly shifted to who the new 170-pound champion would face in his first title defense, with several top contenders entering the conversation.
In recent weeks, speculation has grown that Garry could emerge as the next challenger, and the buzz picked up even more when “The Future” traveled to Georgia earlier this week to sharpen his wrestling in the sport’s traditional stronghold.
However, Islam Makhachev’s longtime coach, Javier Mendez, cautioned Ian Garry, insisting that his pupil would hold a clear advantage if the fight hit the mat.
Javier Mendez Says Ian Garry Has Skills, But Cannot Stop Islam Makhachev’s Wrestling
During a recent interview with Submission Radio, Javier Mendez addressed a possible showdown between Islam Makhachev and Ian Garry. While he spoke highly about “The Future” and his strengths, the seasoned coach emphasized that Makhachev’s camp is fully prepared for the challenge.
“I feel good about it. He’s [Garry] a well-known guy. He’s very highly skilled, and I look forward to the challenge. If that’s who they pick and that’s who Islam wants, no problem. Bring him on the plate. We’ll get ready for Ian Garry. He’s good,” Mendez said.
Mendez went on to outline how he believes a potential clash would unfold, acknowledging the Irishman’s striking threat but warning that once the fight hit the mat, he believes the reigning UFC welterweight champion would completely overwhelm him.
“He does well with Islam on the stand‑up because he’s rangy, he’s tricky, all those. But on the ground, he doesn’t. He does okay, but he doesn’t survive on the ground, I don’t think. I mean, okay, he might survive five rounds, but he won’t get the best of Islam on the ground. That I’m 100% sure about. On the stand‑up, he’s pretty tricky, so one punch can change everything, one kick, one punch, one knee. That’s a different story. But on the ground, I don’t see him dominating. I see him surviving, possibly… His takedown defense is decent, but not great enough to stop Islam from taking him down.”
Garry is coming off a dominant unanimous decision victory over former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad at UFC Qatar in November. The Future’s” only career loss came in a narrow decision defeat to undefeated contender Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 in December 2024.
