TLDR
- Dustin Poirier believes Ian Machado Garry needs a knockout to beat Islam Makhachev at UFC 330 on August 15
- Poirier was submitted by Makhachev at UFC 302 and knows firsthand how dangerous the champion’s grappling is
- Garry has height and reach advantages but Poirier says he can’t just use footwork and jabs to win rounds
- Poirier doesn’t think Garry can win a decision or submit Makhachev, leaving knockout as only option
- The welterweight title fight takes place at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia on Paramount+
Sources: mmajunkie.usatoday.com | sports.yahoo.com
Dustin Poirier has shared his thoughts on the upcoming welterweight title fight between Ian Machado Garry and Islam Makhachev at UFC 330. The former lightweight contender believes Garry will need more than just footwork to win.
Machado Garry will challenge champion Islam Makhachev in the main event on August 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. The fight will be available on Paramount+.
Poirier fought Makhachev at UFC 302, where he was submitted late in the fight. His firsthand experience with the champion’s grappling gives him unique insight into what Garry faces.
“I need to go back and see Ian Garry fight some wrestlers, his takedown defense, his wall work, his get ups,” Poirier said on the “Deep Waters” podcast. “I need to see a little bit more, just refresh my memory on his grappling because obviously Islam is going to drown him, I think, but I need to see how good he is in those positions.”
The last time Islam Makhachev fought someone his size with a longer reach.
Imagine what a 6’3 Ian Garry with an even bigger reach and cleaner technique would do to him. pic.twitter.com/1XDxl9Jl0S
— CageMath (@ThatCageMathGuy) July 27, 2026
Size Advantage Won’t Be Enough
Machado Garry enters the fight with both height and reach advantages over Makhachev. The Irish fighter has successfully used his long frame to outpoint opponents like Geoff Neal and Belal Muhammad.
However, Poirier doesn’t think distance management alone will be enough against the champion. “He can use the footwork to keep the distance, but he has to win the rounds,” Poirier explained.
The Louisiana native emphasized that Garry must land damaging strikes to earn rounds from the judges. “You have to land some kind of shot. You have to do some kind of damage,” he said.
“You can’t just run the whole time throwing a jab and expect to win the round against a guy who’s pushing you against the fence,” Poirier added.
Finish or Go Home
Poirier made it clear he doesn’t see Machado Garry winning on the scorecards. He believes the challenger’s only path to victory is a knockout.
“That’s the only way Ian wins this fight is landing a shot standing up, hurting him,” Poirier stated. “I don’t think he’s going to win a decision, and I don’t think he’s going to submit him.”
Poirier concluded his analysis with a simple message: “He has to finish him.”
Makhachev currently holds a record of 28-1 in his mixed martial arts career, with a 17-1 record inside the UFC octagon. His only loss came early in his career.
Machado Garry brings a 17-1 record overall and a 10-1 UFC record into the title fight. His lone defeat came in his professional debut outside the UFC.
The welterweight title fight on August 15 marks Makhachev’s first defense at 170 pounds after moving up from lightweight. Machado Garry earned his title shot after his decision victories over top contenders in the division.
