Ian Machado Garry wasn’t involved in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night, but his name surfaced during discussions with Dana White, UFC CEO, regarding previous critical remarks. These comments followed Machado Garry’s loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 330, where Makhachev defended his UFC Welterweight Championship. White, Makhachev, and others criticized Machado Garry for being too courteous to his opponents, arguing that he should have been more aggressive.
White maintained his stance on the matter but clarified a reported quote after Fight Night. A reporter suggested White wanted Machado Garry to annihilate Makhachev in the fifth round. White responded, “I didn’t say I’d like for him to do that. What I said was, you know, you get this opportunity; you’ve worked your whole life to get there.” He believed Machado Garry performed well until the final round.
White added, “I thought Ian Garry did good work leading up to the fifth round, assuming that was the game plan [from his first four rounds], and you want to come out and start hugging and shaking hands.” He advised Machado Garry to save his niceties for after the fight, highlighting the importance of seizing such opportunities.
Makhachev won the fight through a unanimous decision, retaining his UFC Welterweight Championship. He supported White’s critique following UFC 330. Despite the criticism, Machado Garry continues receiving recognition as a top MMA fighter, boasting 17 wins and 2 losses in 19 fights. Machado Garry ranks second among welterweight fighters, just below Carlos Prates.
White didn’t rule out future title shots for Machado Garry but implied that Garry missed a rare chance against Makhachev. Interestingly, Machado Garry defeated Prates earlier in April 2025, indicating potential merit for another championship opportunity.