Islam Makhachev vs Ian Machado Garry Predictions & Picks
Islam Makhachev is tipped to retain the UFC welterweight title in the main event.
Makhachev’s route to victory is the same as always – use his grapping to maul an opponent, take him to the mat and break him down.
- Islam Makhachev is on a 16-fight win streak
- Islam Makhachev averages 3.10 takedowns every 15 minutes
- Ian Machado Garry’s sole career loss came in points
- 23 of Islam Makhachev’s 28 wins have been by decision or submission
Islam Makhachev Form
Islam Makhachev is a former lightweight champion and the current welterweight champion with a professional record of 28-1 (5 KOs, 13 Subs).
Makhachev debuted in the UFC back in May 2015, and enjoyed a successful first outing as he submitted Leo Kuntz in the second round.
He was knocked out by Adriano Martins in his next outing, but to this day that remains the only defeat on his record.
The 34-year-old Russian rebounded with unanimous decision wins over Chris Wade and Nik Lentz, and then followed up a 57-second knockout of Gleison Tibau with a first-round submission of Kajan Johnson.
Makhachev then downed by Arman Tsarukyan and Davi Ramos on points, before reeling off three consecutive submission wins, stopping Drew Dober in the third, Thiago Moises in the fourth, and Dan Hooker in the first.
That was followed by another first-round stoppage as he knocked out Bobby Green in February 2022, and that was enough to secure a shot at the lightweight title.
The Russian ace completed his rise to the summit by submitting Charles Oliveira in the second round, and he then went on to make two successful defences against Alexander Volkanovski, winning by unanimous decision and first-round knockout.
His dominance of the lightweight ranks continued as he then scored submission wins over Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano, and it was following that success against Moicano that he made the move up to welterweight.
In his debut at 170lbs, Makhachev claimed the title with a unanimous decision win over Jack Della Maddalena, equalling the longest win streak in UFC history in the process.
Ian Machado Garry Form
Ian Machado Garry is the number one ranked welterweight contender with a professional record of 17-1 (7 KOs, 1 Sub).
Garry arrived in the UFC in November 2021, following a successful run with Cage Warriors in the UK and Ireland, and he made an immediate splash with a first-round knockout of Jordan Williams.
The 28-year-old Irishman followed that up with unanimous decision wins over Darian Weeks and Gabriel Green, before knockout out Song Kenan in the third and Daniel Rodriguez in the first.
He then out-pointed Neil Magny, Geoff Neal and Michael Venom Page, setting up a UFC welterweight title eliminator fight in December 2024.
Garry’s quest for a championship bout suffered a setback though, as he lost to Shavkat Rakhmonov by unanimous decision.
‘The Future’ got back on track last year though, as he beat Carlos Prates and Belal Muhammad by unanimous decision to land this shot at Islam Makhachev.