Islam Makhachev looks unbeatable. The oddsmakers agree, pegging him as a heavy -300 favorite. But Demian Maia, a man who knows a thing or two about choking people unconscious, thinks Ian Garry has the tools to pull off the upset at UFC 330 in Philadelphia. It’s a tall order. Garry (17-1) is stepping into the cage with the pound-for-pound king (28-1) on August 15. Most expect a blowout. Maia expects a dogfight.
Their alliance isn’t new. It started back in 2023. A chance meeting at a Barcelona seminar turned into a regular training partnership, with Garry frequently flying to Brazil to absorb Maia’s grappling wisdom. Recently, Maia traveled to Spain to sharpen Garry’s defensive wrestling before the Irishman headed to England to wrap up his camp with former UFC fighter John Hathaway.
People talk about Garry’s reach. They talk about his cardio. Maia doesn’t care about that. To him, Garry’s real weapon is his brain. The kid is a sponge. Maia recalls showing Garry a specific takedown tweak just days before his fight against Carlos Prates. Garry didn’t just learn it; he executed it ten times in the cage. That is rare. Most fighters freeze under pressure, but Garry adapts on the fly.
Still, Makhachev is a monster. Maia isn’t delusional. He openly admits the Dagestani champion possesses grappling skills elite enough to compete in world-class no-gi jiu-jitsu tournaments. It is a terrifying hurdle. To help Garry clear it, Maia will be right there in his corner on August 15, alongside Diego Lima, John Hathaway, and Paulo Mauricio Strauch. They have a plan. Whether it works is another story.
