UFC Welterweight Champion Islam Makhachev doesn’t think his UFC 330 challenger Ian Machado Garry is anything special.
“He is a good fighter but he is nothing special. I have beaten many strikers…The next opponent, that’s it,” said Makhachev at today’s press conference promoting Saturday’s main event.
Garry disagrees.
“Beating him proves that I am special. Everyone in this stadium, every single one of you fans consider him to be the number one, pound for pound fighter on the planet, you consider him the greatest martial artist walking the Earth right now. When I beat him you can all shut your f—–g mouths and you will call me great,” he responded.
The crowd loudly booed Garry through the event. He welcomed the hate.
“I couldn’t give a f–k. I couldn’t care less. My little boy is here smiling and making faces. I am living the dream. Islam is here. I get to fight for a world title on Saturday night. I dreamt of this when I was a 16-year-old kid. I dreamt of being a UFC fighter. I dreamt of having the ability to fight for a UFC title. This weekend all of my dreams come true and nobody can take that away from me,” he said.
When a journalist asked if Makhachev found Garry “annoying” Garry targeted him with a verbal takedown.
“That’s a loaded question. What you are doing now is trying to cause trouble. Don’t do it. We are friends. I thought we were cool. That is putting words in his f—–g mouth and you know it. If he feels that, he can be honest and he can say that. Your job as a journalist is to be professional and stick to the f—–g sport. This is the biggest fight of the year. I think there is more important things to talk about,” he said.
Even though Makhachev may not think Garry is anything special, Garry still have respect for all that Makhachev has achieved including his 16 straight wins which is tied for the longest winning streak in UFC history.
“Islam is a phenomenal talent. He is a phenomenal athlete. Nobody gets to this level of respect that he has this streak but look it is pure skill. I have nothing but respect for him, his skill set and everything he has done in this sport. I am proud that I get to compete against him and prove that I am a champion. That is an honour,” said Garry.
In the co-main event, Mackenzie Dern will defend her Women’s Strawweight Championship against challenger Canadian Gillian Robertson. Throughout fight week there has been talk of who dislikes who. Dern is baffled by it all.
“The only time we talked to each other was during the face-off. I just feel like we are in high school and who doesn’t like each other. I think the best time we are going to get to know each other is in the Octagon for 25 minutes so that’s about it,” she said.
Robertson accused Dern of belittling her and dismissing her all week long.
“I think she has been diminishing my skills through the media. She doesn’t know what belt I am. She doesn’t know who I am but she is trying to chase the submission record that I have so it seems kind of weird,” said Robertson.
Robertson is on a five-fight UFC winning streak and she holds the UFC women’s record for most submission wins.
Here is the UFC 330 card:
Main card (Paramount+ at 8 p.m. ET)
Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Machado Garry – UFC Welterweight Championship
Mackenzie Dern vs. Gillian Robertson – UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship
Charles Johnson vs. Jose Ochoa
Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Dustin Stoltzfus
Edson Barboza vs. Esteban Ribovics
Prelims (Paramount+ at 7 p.m ET)
Chidi Njokuani vs. Joel Alvarez
Jalin Turner vs. Kaue Fernandes
Donte Johnson vs. Eric McConico
Vicente Luque vs. Tresean Gore
Early prelims (Paramout+ at 5:30 p.m. ET)
Rafael Tobias vs. Lucas Fernando
Neil Magny vs. Ramiz Brahimaj
Jeremiah Wells vs. Myktybek Orolbai
