PHILADELPHIA — Ian Machado Garry isn’t interested in taking shortcuts toward greatness. The 28-year-old Irish contender wants to build his legacy the old-fashioned way win the UFC welterweight championship and then systematically defeat every legitimate challenger the division can put in front of him.
His opportunity to begin that journey comes Saturday when Machado Garry challenges Islam Makhachev for the welterweight championship in the UFC 330 main event at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
And if Garry is going to accomplish everything he envisions, there may be no better place to start than against a fighter increasingly mentioned among the greatest in UFC history.
Garry Wants to Beat the Best
Machado Garry (17-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) isn’t downplaying the magnitude of facing Makhachev (28-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC). Quite the opposite. He believes defeating a fighter many currently consider the best in the world would provide the foundation for the type of legacy he wants to create.
“It starts by proving I’m the best against the guy that people consider to be the best right now,” Garry said.
But winning the championship would only be the beginning. Garry wants longevity.
“I’m 28 years of age, I have a decade of domination in this sport if I choose to, and I want to be remembered as one of the greatest of all time.”
Demetrious Johnson and Jon Jones Set the Standard
In an era when becoming a two-division champion has become one of the UFC’s most coveted achievements, Garry has a different definition of greatness. He points toward the lengthy championship reigns of Demetrious Johnson and Jon Jones.
Both champions spent years eliminating contenders and building resumes that became increasingly difficult for future generations to match. That’s what Garry wants.
“I want it to be undeniable, and I need to make sure that I have title reigns like Demetrious Johnson and Jon Jones, and those long, dominant title reigns.”
For Garry, collecting championships in multiple divisions isn’t necessarily more impressive than dominating one.
“Double champions, they’re less important now. They’re less special now because people are waiting for the right opportunity.”
It’s a striking philosophy considering the man standing across from him Saturday has already accomplished exactly that.
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Robert LaMar is a Deputy Editor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
