Ian Machado Garry put up a competitive fight against Islam Makhachev at UFC 330, but Dana White believes the Irishman needed to show far more urgency during the five-round contest.
Makhachev ultimately secured a unanimous decision victory, successfully navigating Garry’s size and defensive grappling. While Garry defended most of Makhachev’s takedown attempts and had his own moments, White was particularly critical of his hesitation in the striking exchanges.
Speaking after the fight, White argued that Garry’s approach became too passive, especially in the fifth round.
The UFC CEO believes Garry should have taken significantly more risks while searching for a finish rather than appearing content to reach the final bell. He said:
“I think Ian is a talented guy. If he had even an ounce of killer instinct, in that fifth round, you don’t come out and hug and shake hands. That sh*t drives me crazy.”
“You come out in that fifth round with a flying knee and try to finish the fight.”
Check out Dana White’s comments about Ian Machado Garry below:
White acknowledged Garry’s talent but questioned whether the Irishman possesses the mentality required to capitalize when facing elite opposition.
Ian Machado Garry Had His Moments Against Islam Makhachev
Despite the criticism, Ian Machado Garry produced a respectable performance against one of the UFC’s most dominant fighters.
‘The Future’ defended the majority of Islam Makhachev’s takedown attempts, preventing the champion from establishing the prolonged top control that has become a trademark of his game.
Makhachev did create the biggest moment of the fight in the second round, however, dropping Garry with a head kick.
Garry recovered and responded strongly in the third round, badly damaging Makhachev’s face during a clinch exchange. However, he struggled to consistently follow those moments with sustained offensive pressure.
Islam Makhachev Gets the Decision
Islam Makhachev maintained enough control and initiative across the remaining rounds to secure the unanimous decision and continue his remarkable run at the top of the UFC. He has now broken Anderson Silva’s 16-fight winning streak record in the promotion.
For Ian Machado Garry, the defeat showed both encouraging signs and areas that need improvement. His takedown defense held up against Makhachev, and he demonstrated that he could hurt the champion in close exchanges.
However, his reluctance to engage offensively ultimately limited his chances of stealing the fight.
Garry remains one of the UFC’s most talented welterweights, but White’s criticism highlights the next step in his development.
The ability is there. Now Garry needs to become more willing to take risks when the biggest opportunities present themselves.
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