Javier Mendez doesn’t agree with Dana
White’s assessment of Ian Garry’s
performance against Islam
Makhachev.
Makhachev retained the
Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight title with a
unanimous decision win over Garry in the UFC
330 main event on Aug. 15. White later criticized the Irish
challenger for being too passive and overly respectful, which he
believes cost him the fight.
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Javier Mendez praises Ian Garry’s strategy in UFC 330 loss to
Islam Makhachev
Mendez has a different take on Garry’s strategy against Makhachev.
While he understands the UFC CEO’s point of view, the
American Kickboxing Academy head coach commended Garry’s
approach.
“From that perspective, I get where he [Dana White] is coming from,
but he doesn’t understand the mentality of a fighter and what Ian
pulled off,” Mendez said. “If he understood that, then he’d have a
different outlook on it like I do.”
Mendez acknowledged that the fight was lackluster, but Garry’s
strategy still impressed him. He suggested the styles of the two
fighters contributed to the lack of action, with Garry relying on
defensive counter-striking while Makhachev was careful not to
overextend himself.
“I understand this more than anybody, probably, on the mental side
of it and what I saw from Ian was so impressive,” Mendez added.
“The fight was somewhat lackluster. So, yeah, the Dana thing, you
know, I get it, where he’s coming from. But from the mentality of a
coach, where I’m coming from… Being a coach, that was genius on
Ian’s part.”