Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana
White believes Ian Garry
possesses one key attribute that could trouble Islam
Makhachev.
Makhachev is set to make his first 170-pound title defense when he
meets Garry in the UFC
330 main event on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in
Philadelphia. White recently highlighted what makes the Irish
challenger a “serious threat” to the welterweight title.
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Dana White explains why Ian Garry’s takedown defense could
challenge Islam Makhachev at UFC 330
White pointed to Garry’s defensive wrestling as a potential
equalizer against Makhachev. He said that if “The Future” proves
too difficult to take down, the champion could struggle to impose
his will.
“I think it’s a great fight, actually,” White told The Mac Life.
“If you look at what Ian Garry has been able to do, he frustrates
people. His takedown defense has been excellent and we’ll see if he
can stay on his feet. Obviously, if he can stay off the ground, he
poses a serious threat to Islam.”
Makhachev put on a wrestling clinic against Jack
Della Maddalena to win the welterweight title and has
previously submitted the likes of Charles
Oliveira, Dustin
Poirier and Dan Hooker.
The only title fight in which the Dagestani fighter struggled was
his first bout with Alexander
Volkanovski, who displayed tremendous takedown defense to push
Makhachev to the limit.
Garry has emerged as one of the most defensively sound fighters in
the UFC, making him a tricky stylistic matchup for Makhachev.