Islam Makhachev’s coach teases surprise no-takedown strategy against Ian Machado Garry

Ian Machado Garry has been warned to not underestimate the UFC welterweight champion’s striking.

Islam Makhachev can be the important attraction on the UFC 330 card on August 15, because the Dagestani defends his 170-pound crown for the primary time since winning it eight months ago.

Despite the likes of Michael Morales and Carlos Prates staking their claims, it’s Garry who will challenge Makhachev on the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.

Many predict the champ to repeat the grappling-heavy performance that saw him crowned king against Jack Della Maddalena, but coach Javier Mendez says that isn’t a certainty.

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Coach Javier Mendez isn’t certain Islam Makhachev might want to take down Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330

Garry has develop into often called one of the technical and talented strikers within the welterweight division, having used his strong stand-up game to outpoint Carlos Prates and Belal Muhammad in 2025.

With that said, most imagine the Dubliner’s path to victory lies in stopping Makhachev from dragging him to the bottom, thus avoiding the fate that befell Della Maddalena at UFC 322 in Recent York City.

Based on Mendez, the pinnacle coach of the American Kickboxing Academy, the champ may very well leave that door open for ‘The Future’ on fight night in Philadelphia.

“Ian Garry’s biggest advantage is his range,” Mendez said during a recent interview with GiveMeSport.

“His ability to make use of his range well together with his kicks — in addition to his scrambling and takedown defences. We’re going to must see what we are able to do once we’re within the octagon.

“Islam is well-rounded, so he’s in a position to adapt to anything. It’s hard to say right away but come fight night we are going to have the opportunity to dictate what openings we are able to find and go from there,” he continued. “I’d like to say, ‘We’re going to take him down.’

“Until we see Ian Garry’s timings we won’t know. We may not even must take him down, we could just strike with him.

“Ian Garry is not any slouch within the stand-up, but neither is Islam. Garry can’t think he can go in there and do whatever he wants within the kickboxing arena. He needs to be careful otherwise Islam will take him out.”

Garry is widely credited for giving elite grappler Shavkat Rakhmonov his hardest test to this point in December 2024.

The Irishman has also taken credit for sidelining the Kazakh star ever since, having landed a variety of brutal kicks to his still-injured knee.

‘The Future’ will look to go one step further by having his hand raised against a smothering wrestler when he shares the cage with Makhachev for his maiden title fight within the UFC.