If Sean Strickland can pull off a massive upset, Ian Machado Garry doesn’t see why he can’t.
Strickland (31-7 MMA, 18-7 UFC) came up big as an underdog against Khamzat Chimaev (15-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) to claim the middleweight title by split decision at UFC 328. Another undefeated fighter in Ilia Topuria (17-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) also recently suffered his first-career loss when he was dethroned by Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250.
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Now, Machado Garry (17-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) looks to follow suit when he faces dominant welterweight champion Islam Makhachev (28-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) in the UFC 330 headliner on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia (Paramount+).
“If people think when Sean Strickland goes out and beats Khamzat Chimaev and upsets the apple cart, and no one expected, no one can sit here and think that it’s impossible that I can beat Islam Makhachev,” Machado Garry told Paul Browne.
“If anything, I’m a far more dangerous threat. I’m far more complete and I have way, way, way more ways of winning that fight. I am the most dangerous opponent for Islam Makhachev, and it’s my job to go out and prove that on Aug. 15.”
Machado Garry is a big underdog against Makhachev, who will look to break the UFC record for most consecutive victories. The Irishman explains why he thinks he’s the worst possible matchup for Makhachev.
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“My mindset, my vision, and my fight IQ,” Machado Garry said. “Three things that can’t be taught. You either have them or you don’t.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Ian Machado Garry points to Strickland when saying he’ll upset Makhachev
