UFC legend Dustin Poirier has given an honest breakdown of the upcoming UFC 330 main event between Islam Makhachev and Ian Machado Garry.

For many years now, Ian Machado Garry has made it clear that he has one goal: to hold gold in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He has spent a long time grinding away both in and outside of the promotion, and now, he faces the ultimate test as he prepares to battle Islam Makhachev at UFC 330 – a man who many consider to be one of the greatest of all time.

Ian Machado Garry has faced tough opponents before and nobody can deny that. Sure, some critics don’t enjoy the way he carries himself or perhaps even his fight style, but more often than not, he goes out there and does what he needs to do to ensure that he is the one with his hand raised at the end of the bout.

In a recent appearance on Deep Waters, Dustin Poirier gave his thoughts on Ian Machado Garry’s chances of success in Philadelphia.

Dustin Poirier on Islam Makhachev vs Ian Machado Garry

I need to go back and see Ian Garry fight some wrestlers, his takedown defense, his wall work, his get ups,” Poirier said on “Deep Waters.” “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.

“He can use the footwork to keep the distance, but he has to win the rounds,” Poirier said of Machado Garry. “You have to land some kind of shot. You have to do some kind of damage. 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.”

“That’s the only way Ian wins this fight is landing a shot standing up, hurting him,” Poirier said. “I don’t think he’s going to win a decision, and I don’t think he’s going to submit him. He has to finish him.” Quotes via MMA Junkie

Machado Garry has extensively studied Makhachev up to this point, but in order to get through him, he needs to produce the kind of generational performance that really reminds everyone why he has been known as ‘The Future’ for so long.

Ian Shutts

A combat sports journalist specialising in MMA, Boxing and Muay Thai with a special interest in Asian combat sports.