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A welterweight world title bout headlines the UFC 330 fight card on August 15 in Philadelphia. Champion Islam Makhachev puts his title on the line for the first time against No. 2 ranked Ian Machado Garry at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
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Makhachev (28-1) will enter his first welterweight title defense ranked as the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world. The dominant grappler is a heavy betting favorite and expected to retain his belt. The majority of(13) of Makhachev’s 28 career wins have been via submission and former UFC title challenger and original BMF titleholder Jorge Masvidal wants to see the champion rack up another submission win in two weeks.
“I think he’s getting choked to sleep. That’s at least what I’m hoping for. I hope Makhachev goes in there, manhandles his ass, gets his neck and … puts his ass to sleep,” Masvidal said on Deep Waters.
“He’s not bad defensively. His defense isn’t bad and his footwork is I think what makes it amazing. But he’s never grappled with a guy like Makhachev that has sweeps, the inside trips, the upper body,” continued Masvidal.
“He’s going to control the airspace and he’s going to stay on his footwork, on his bicycle. He’s going to jab the glove a lot and he’s going to move and he’s going to have to make Islam probably really throw some heavy shots to get his attention and then blast through him.”
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“Gamebred” believes the course of the fight will be determined early on with the first few takedown attempts from Makhachev.
“I just want to see how good Garry can defend that single-leg when he first gets to it. And I think that’ll be a big indicator of how fight’s going to go,” he said. “If he could stuff those head inside singles, head outside singles the first round or two. But if Makhachev can take him down since round one, he’s going to finish him because I think once it hits the ground there, just like on the feet, I think they’re worlds apart on the feet. I think they’re worlds apart on the ground.”
“If they were to do a kickboxing match, I’d put my money on Ian Garry. 100 percent. And I think he’d beat him three out of five, four out of five, you know. I wouldn’t give Makhachev much if a chance if it was just a kickboxing match,” said Masvidal.
“If it’s a gripping match, I would dump all the money on Makhachev to submit him every time. And I just think they’re worlds apart on the feet and on the ground, more worlds apart on the ground.”
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This story was originally published July 29, 2026 at 8:23 PM.