Garry vows to surpass McGregor as face of Irish MMA by dethroning Makhachev at UFC 330

Ian Garry has declared that defeating Islam Makhachev at UFC 330 on 15 August at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia would cement him as the defining figure of Irish MMA — a status he believes currently belongs to Conor McGregor. The 28-year-old welterweight challenger faces the lightweight champion in the main event in what would be his first UFC title shot.

Speaking at a promotional event for Matchroom Talent Agency, Garry framed the fight in explicitly historical terms. “With my next fight, I’ll be the most victorious Irishman in UFC history. I’ll have 11 wins,” he said. Both Garry and McGregor currently sit level on 10 UFC victories apiece.

Garry stopped short of saying he intends to eclipse McGregor’s broader cultural legacy, but positioned himself as the start of a new chapter for Irish MMA. “I am the next superstar of Irish MMA. I’m going to be carrying that second wave,” he said, adding that he wants to use a potential title reign to bring the UFC back to Dublin — specifically name-dropping Croke Park as a venue he believes could host a card.

“I want to be the type of guy that brings the UFC back to Ireland. It’s been a long time. I’ve been carrying this flag for Irish MMA for a long, long time,” Garry added.

The fight represents a steep climb. Makhachev has dominated the lightweight division since claiming the title in 2022 and is widely regarded as one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in the world. Garry, who competes at welterweight, is stepping up in both weight class and competition level for the bout.

McGregor, meanwhile, is scheduled to compete at UFC 329 before Garry’s title challenge — meaning the record Garry is targeting could shift again before he gets the chance to break it.