Garry cites Strickland's Chimaev upset as proof he can dethrone Makhachev at UFC 330

Ian Garry has pointed to Sean Strickland’s upset victory over Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 as evidence that he can shock the world against welterweight champion Islam Makhachev in the UFC 330 main event at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia on August 15.

Garry (17-1) enters the fight as a considerable underdog against the champion (28-1), but the Irishman is dismissing the sceptics by drawing a direct line to recent upsets at the top of the UFC card.

“If people think when Sean Strickland goes out and beats Khamzat Chimaev and upsets the apple cart, and no one expected, no one can sit here and think that it’s impossible that I can beat Islam Makhachev,” Garry told Paul Browne.

Far from simply mirroring Strickland’s blueprint, Garry believes he brings considerably more to the table than the veteran middleweight. “If anything, I’m a far more dangerous threat. I’m far more complete and I have way, way, way more ways of winning that fight. I am the most dangerous opponent for Islam Makhachev, and it’s my job to go out and prove that. My mindset, my vision, and my fight IQ… Three things that can’t be taught. You either have them or you don’t.”

Garry arrives at his maiden title shot on the back of decision wins over former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad and Carlos Prates, a run that has built his confidence heading into the biggest fight of his career.

Makhachev, meanwhile, is chasing history. The champion claimed the welterweight title by defeating Jack Della Maddalena and is now targeting the record for most consecutive UFC victories, a mark currently held by Anderson Silva. That added motivation gives the Philadelphia card a dual narrative: Garry hunting an upset, Makhachev hunting a legacy milestone.