Garry reveals Georgian wrestlers 'ragdolled' him in bid to match Makhachev's grappling at UFC 330

Ian Garry flew to Georgia earlier this year to be thrown around by elite wrestlers — and says the humbling experience is central to his preparation for Islam Makhachev’s welterweight title at UFC 330 on 15 August in Philadelphia.

The Irish welterweight, who earned his shot with victories over Carlos Prates and former champion Belal Muhammad, made the trip in February specifically to feel a level of wrestling that, in his own words, Ireland and most of Europe simply cannot provide.

“It was to feel elite, high-level wrestling, to feel a wrestling that Ireland does not have, that England does not have. That a lot of Europe does not have,” Garry told The Irish Sun. “Georgia are very, very into their martial arts. They’re very into their judo, their wrestling. They’re phenomenal at all those sports.”

Garry was candid about what those sessions actually felt like. “I felt their power. I felt their speed. I felt the technique,” he said. “I got ragdolled for a number of days, and I loved every bit of it. And it helped set me and start my plan.”

The decision to seek out that kind of punishment is not without context. Garry’s only professional loss came against Shavkat Rakhmonov in 2024, a defeat largely decided by wrestling exchanges — precisely the area Makhachev has used to dismantle opponents throughout his career.

Makhachev himself vacated the lightweight title before moving up and claiming the welterweight belt by defeating Jack Della Maddalena. His grappling credentials make him a significant favourite heading into the Philadelphia main event, and Garry’s willingness to be repeatedly taken down in training suggests he is under no illusions about the challenge ahead.