Garry’s Championship Potential
Ian Machado Garry is set to compete for UFC gold this Saturday, facing Islam Makhachev, who is considered the top pound-for-pound fighter in the sport. Makhachev enters the fight with a 16-fight win streak, having demonstrated dominance in both lightweight and welterweight divisions. He is widely favored to win the upcoming bout.
Retired UFC welterweight Matt Brown has expressed that Garry possesses the qualities to become a champion in the future. Brown noted Garry’s skill, stating, “He is an extremely skilled guy. I’ve given him praises for a long time. I think he’s got championship material in him.” However, Brown views Makhachev as a particularly difficult opponent for Garry at this stage.
Demian Maia, who has worked with Garry on his grappling, also believes Garry has the tools to become a champion. Maia highlighted Garry’s intelligence as a fighter, noting, “Ian is a very smart fighter. He understands that the most obvious advantage is his striking and control of distance. That’s why he has the tools to be the champion.”
The Makhachev Challenge
According to Brown, the timing and matchup against Makhachev are unfavorable for Garry. He suggested that a fight with Jack Della Maddalena might have been a more even contest. Brown described Makhachev as “the wrong guy at the wrong time” for Garry, emphasizing the challenge he presents.
Makhachev’s primary strength lies in his grappling game, which includes strong takedowns and various submission techniques. Maia explained that Makhachev is adept at exploiting any defensive errors, stating, “Makhachev will take advantage of any mistake that you do with your elbow, with your leg, with your hips in the wrong direction – he will get you.”
Garry’s strategy will likely need to focus on stopping Makhachev’s takedowns to succeed on his feet. While Garry is an elite striker, he is not known for significant knockout power. This suggests he may need to win on points over 25 minutes at UFC 330.
Brown anticipates that it will be difficult for Garry to avoid being taken to the ground for the entire fight. He believes that if Makhachev secures a takedown, Garry might not be able to recover. Brown also noted that while Garry has good grappling and Makhachev has good striking, the core game plans for both fighters are clear: striker versus grappler.
On the feet, Garry may have an advantage, but Brown suggests it is not as significant as the disparity if the fight goes to the ground. Makhachev, despite not being known as an elite striker, can hold his own in striking exchanges, and his opponent’s lack of knockout power could allow him to take more risks to secure a takedown.
Path to Victory
Brown stressed that Garry cannot afford to make mistakes, especially on the ground, against Makhachev. He cited Charles Oliveira as an example of a fighter who learned this lesson. Brown believes that Makhachev can make some errors and still recover, but Garry’s margin for error is minimal.
For Garry to win, he would need to deliver an almost flawless performance in a five-round fight. Brown expects that Garry will eventually make a mistake, which Makhachev would likely capitalize on to finish the fight.
Garry is considered a significant underdog against Makhachev, who is aiming to set a new UFC record for consecutive victories.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
