TLDR
- Islam Makhachev defends his welterweight title against Ian Garry on August 15 at UFC 330 in Philadelphia
- Makhachev won the 170-pound belt by stopping Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 in November
- Michael Morales gives Garry ‘zero chance’ and predicts Makhachev will dominate on the ground
- Daniel Cormier believes it’s a hard fight for both men and that Garry’s size could cause problems
- Mackenzie Dern vs Gillian Robertson serves as the co-main event for the strawweight title
Sources: yardbarker.com | bjpenn.com | bjpenn.com
Islam Makhachev will defend his UFC welterweight championship against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 on August 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. The prelims kick off at 6 p.m. ET, with the main card starting at 9 p.m. ET on Paramount+.
Makhachev captured the 170-pound belt by stopping Jack Della Maddalena last November at UFC 322 in New York. This will be his first defense of the welterweight title.
Garry enters the fight as a heavy underdog against the pound-for-pound king. The Irishman has been waiting for an opportunity to prove himself against the sport’s elite.
MMA Fighters Split on Garry’s Chances
Welterweight contender Michael Morales does not give Garry much chance of winning. Speaking on MMAJunkie’s “Hablemos MMA,” Morales predicted a decisive victory for Makhachev.
“Zero, zero, zero chance,” Morales said. “I don’t see Ian with many chances. It would have to be a brutal shot that stops Makhachev.”
😤💪 Islam Makhachev admits he’s beatable but says no one trains hard enough to do it:
“Fighters can beat me, you know. But who can beat me? Who trains more than me? I know nobody trains more than me. Mentally, I’m ready, physically, I’m ready, and I can fight with anybody.”… pic.twitter.com/V47FHino39
— Full Mount MMA (@MMAFullMount) August 2, 2026
Morales, who holds a perfect 19-0 record with 14 knockouts, has been selected as the backup fighter for the UFC 330 main event. He believes Makhachev’s game plan is predictable but unstoppable.
“We already know his plan. He’s done it all his life,” Morales said. “He’s going to strike and go for the takedown. He has great control on the ground.”
Morales predicts the fight will spend all five rounds on the ground or end in a finish for Makhachev.
However, UFC commentator Daniel Cormier offered a different perspective on his YouTube channel. He believes both fighters face a difficult challenge.
“It’s a hard fight for Ian Garry. It’s a hard fight for Islam Makhachev,” Cormier said.
Cormier thinks the opening round will determine the fight’s outcome. If Garry can stay on his feet in the first round, it could be a long night for Makhachev.
Size and Movement Could Favor Garry
Cormier highlighted Garry’s physical advantages in the matchup. The Irishman is very tall for the weight class and moves well for 25 minutes.
“When you look within Garry the fighter, he is elite,” Cormier said. “He’ll be a shorter fighter in the octagon this time, and Garry won’t be stationary standing in front of him.”
Cormier suggested Makhachev might be trying to challenge Garry’s ego to fight in a way that suits the champion. He believes Makhachev’s team understands this could be a very difficult fight.
Former UFC champion Charles Oliveira has also expressed belief that Garry has what it takes to defeat Makhachev. The Brazilian fighter’s support adds another voice to those who think Garry poses a legitimate threat.
The co-main event at UFC 330 features Mackenzie Dern defending her strawweight title against Gillian Robertson. The card also includes Neil Magny versus Ramiz Brahimaj at welterweight.
Vicente Luque will face Tresean Gore at middleweight. Jalin Turner meets Kaue Fernandes in a lightweight bout, while Edson Barboza takes on Esteban Ribovics at 155 pounds.
Erin Blanchfield faces Jasmine Jasudavicius at flyweight to round out the announced bouts. The final lineup remains subject to change before fight night.
