Ariel Helwani: Ian Garry Proved Islam Makhachev Is Beatable

Prominent MMA journalist Ariel Helwani recently shared a bold perspective on his program regarding the UFC welterweight championship bout between Islam Makhachev and Ian Garry. According to Helwani, the overarching narrative heading into the event was whether Garry possessed the unique skillset to finally dethrone Makhachev. Following the final bell, Helwani asserted that the post-fight story remained exactly the same: Garry absolutely had what it took to win that fight.

Helwani emphasized that this was by no means a dominant performance from Makhachev, noting that the pound-for-pound king had to dig incredibly deep to secure the victory.

Specifically, Helwani disputed the 4-1 round scoring in favor of Makhachev by two of the three ringside judges, arguing that a 3-2 scoreline would have been a far more accurate reflection of the contest. He pointed out that Garry appeared to inflict significantly more damage during the fourth round, yet the judges somehow scored that frame for the champion.

Ultimately, Helwani concluded that while Makhachev walked away with the belt, Garry's performance answered crucial questions about the champion's vulnerability. The challenger proved he possesses the exact tools needed to defeat Islam.