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UFC fighters Islam Makhachev and Ian Garry
The UFC 330 welterweight title fight between Islam Makhachev and Ian Machado Garry has all the ingredients of a promising battle of styles. At the same time, it also has several reasons why it could turn into a slow and tactical fight. In simpler terms: a snoozefest.
Makhachev is coming in as the defending champion with an incredible 16-fight winning streak. On the other hand, Garry brings an impressive 17-1 record and an increasingly sophisticated all-around game.
On paper, the UFC 330 main event is a spectacle. However, there are several factors about it that could rob MMA fans of the action-packed and high-intensity showdown they thought they paid for.
Ian Garry Will Be Cautious
One major reason the fight could lack sustained action is Garry’s likely approach. The Irish title challenger has evolved significantly since entering the UFC, but going up against Makhachev, he knows well that caution is very important.
Garry understands that he is facing a world-class fighter with a wide array of championship wins under his belt. Rather than recklessly engaging, “The Future” is likely to be patient, overly calculated, maintain distance and play the waiting game all night.
That strategy could be effective, but it may also produce long stretches of inactivity.
Stats also back that possibility. Garry has not finished an opponent since 2023. His last six fights have gone to the judges, winning five and losing one via decision.
Those results speak volumes about Garry’s evolution as a fighter and how he earned a title shot at UFC 330. It only goes to show that he has been less about chasing finishes and more about minimizing mistakes as well as winning systematically.
Islam Makhachev Will Take The Fight To The Ground
Everybody knows how Makhachev operates inside the Octagon. His greatest advantage is his ground game and the numbers illustrate why. UFC Stats show that the reigning welterweight champion averages 3.10 takedowns per 15 minutes, has a 56% career takedown accuracy, and 91% takedown defense.
Those figures make it logical to expect Makhachev to test Garry’s wrestling rather than keep the fight on the feet. If Makhachev consistently takes it to the ground, which his stats strongly suggest, Garry could be in trouble.
When that happens, there would be extended periods of battle for control on the mat, reducing the volume of dramatic exchanges. Needless to say, the much-awaited UFC 330 main event could be less entertaining for viewers if that were the case.
Islam Makhachev Is Ultimately The Favorite
Stating the obvious, Garry, who is listed at 6’3″, has a five-inch height advantage over the 5’10” Makhachev. As the taller fighter, “The Future” could choose to utilize his length in striking.
However, size advantage isn’t enough to take a longtime champion like Makhachev out. Even though Garry is Makhachev’s tallest opponent, he made mincemeat of Dan Hooker, who stands six feet tall and has an identical physique as Garry.
Ultimately, it appears that Makhachev remains the consensus favorite at this point. Betting markets have Garry as the UFC 330 main event underdog due to Makhachev’s championship legacy. Most of their UFC peers concur with what the betting odds say and see the current 170-pound king still prevailing regardless of how the fight goes.