Islam Makhachev Explains Strategy for UFC 330 Title Defense

The highly anticipated title fight at UFC 330 is drawing closer, and champion Islam Makhachev has added more fuel to the fire. Speaking to reporters during his media appearances yesterday on August 12, 2026, the pound-for-pound king directly mocked the training choices of his undefeated challenger, Ian Machado Garry. Garry has spent a large portion of his training camp working closely with former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira and Brazilian legend Demian Maia to prepare for Makhachev's ground game.

However, Makhachev totally dismissed these training partners by drawing a clear line between different ground fighting styles. The champion explained that Oliveira and Maia are strictly submission grapplers, not true wrestlers. He insisted that practicing Jiu-Jitsu will not help Garry on Saturday night because the challenger will not even be able to stop the takedowns. Makhachev boldly stated that if Garrychad wanted to learn how to survive his elite pressure, the Irish fighter should have packed his bags and trained with people in Dagestan.

This critique comes as part of a highly confident fight week for the champion. Makhachev reiterated that Garry's coaches cannot replicate the heavy, suffocating pressure of his hometown wrestling style. He feels entirely secure in his game plan to drag the fight to the floor and finish it early.