Khabib Nurmagomedov is not treating Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Machado Garry as a routine title defense. His concern is direct. Garry is tall, mobile, hard to copy in camp, and built to make Makhachev spend time crossing distance before the wrestling can matter.
Makhachev is 28-1 as a pro and enters UFC 330 as the welterweight champion after beating Jack Della Maddalena by unanimous decision at UFC 322 on Nov. 15, 2025. Garry is 17-1 and has won two straight since his only defeat, most recently taking a unanimous decision over Belal Muhammad on Nov. 22, 2025 after also beating Carlos Prates earlier in the year.
That record gap is only part of the story. Garry has already predicted Makhachev will eventually grab his leg, while Daniel Cormier warned that Garry’s fourth-round plan could turn ugly if the champion gets his game rolling first. Khabib’s answer was less about hype and more about the work required to make Garry fight at close range.
“Stylistically, he’s a very awkward opponent,” Khabib said. “That’s how I see it. He moves a lot and strikes from long range.”
Khabib then pointed straight at Garry’s physical tools. The Irish contender is not built like the compact lightweights Makhachev spent years mauling before moving up.
“We’ve never faced an opponent this tall – 193 centimeters,” Khabib said. “Over 190 centimeters, with long arms and long kicks.”
“We’ll have to chase him, close him down, grab him, bring him together, and take him down,” Khabib said.
The exchange came from Khabib’s interview with Smol Talk on YouTube and was later shared on X. Watch the section below.
🚨 Khabib Nurmagomedov says Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Machado Garry will be a very difficult fight. 👀
"Ian is a stylistically very uncomfortable opponent. He moves a lot and strikes from long range. He's 193 cm tall—over 190 cm—with long arms and long kicks.
We'll have to chase… pic.twitter.com/ISjNOvU8Dh
— MMA Pros Pick (@MMA_PROS_PICK_) July 14, 2026
Khabib Says Age And Style Both Matter
Khabib did not frame the challenge as just a height problem. He tied the matchup to Makhachev’s age, the pressure around fighting Team Khabib, and the way underdogs prepare when one huge performance can change their career.
“It will be a difficult fight. And Islam is almost thirty-five,” Khabib said. “October 1991 – he’ll be thirty-five soon. The stylistic matchup and the age together make this a difficult fight.”
“I always prepare Islam, Umar, and Usman for difficult fights,” Khabib said. “I tell them, ‘Opponents prepare differently for you.'”
“Against you, they know that one strong performance makes them an instant star,” Khabib said. “So the pressure on the favorite is intense.”
That pressure point matters here because Garry has spent this buildup trying to make the fight feel bigger than a standard title defense. Jon Jones has already favored Makhachev over Garry, and Javier Mendez recently kept Makhachev’s name in other conversations by saying Islam would accept a Max Holloway fight at 170 if the UFC wanted it. Khabib’s focus, though, stayed on the actual Garry assignment.
“If it goes five rounds, spending all five rounds in the cage with this opponent will not be easy,” Khabib said.
“The training camp will be difficult too, first because we have to find someone who can imitate him,” Khabib said. “Very few, especially in this weight class.”
The tactical answer was not complicated. Khabib did not pretend Makhachev needs to become someone else for Garry. He wants pressure, entries, takedowns, and top work. The hard part is getting there against a tall striker who would rather make the champion cross open space all night.
“I don’t think we need to change anything tactically. We need to pressure him,” Khabib said. “Chase him, close the distance, take him down, and then work from there.”
The full Smol Talk interview on YouTube is below.
