Garry vows to outgrapple Makhachev at UFC 330: 'I'll bounce him on his skull'

Ian Garry has issued a bold challenge to UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev ahead of their title fight at UFC 330 on August 15 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, vowing not just to survive Makhachev’s grappling — but to beat him at it.

Garry (17-1), who travelled to a wrestling camp in Georgia as part of his preparation, acknowledged that Makhachev may well take him down. Far from treating that as a threat, the Irishman says it is precisely the scenario he wants.

“He’s never fought someone as long and tall as me,” Garry said on Instagram. “He’s not fought someone as fast as me. He’s never fought someone that has the distance management, the boxing capability, the head movement that I do. And also takedown defence. He might get me down, I hope he does. Because I want to prove to the world that he can’t submit me. I want to prove to the world that I can get back up. I want to prove to the world that I can beat him in his own world.”

Garry went further, dismissing Makhachev’s decorated grappling pedigree outright. “I don’t care how long he has trained in that area. I don’t care if he’s an internationally recognised master of sambo or not. I’m going to bounce him on his skull. I’m going to take his title. I’m gonna take his throne. And I’m gonna finish that consecutive win streak. And I’ll always be the guy that stopped history from happening.”

Makhachev (28-1) enters the bout as arguably the most dominant champion in the sport. He defended his lightweight title four times — a divisional record — before moving up to welterweight, where he dismantled Jack Della Maddalena last November to claim a second belt.

Makhachev has already pushed back on Garry’s wrestling preparations, suggesting the discipline cannot be meaningfully absorbed in a matter of months. That scepticism has only sharpened Garry’s resolve to make a statement on the mat.

Garry’s path to this title shot has not been without setback. After going unbeaten through his first eight UFC appearances, he suffered his sole professional defeat against Shavkat Rakhmonov. He has since recovered with back-to-back wins over Carlos Prates and Belal Muhammad to earn his shot at Makhachev’s throne.