Conor McGregor has backed fellow Irishman Ian Machado Garry to pull off a major upset against Islam Makhachev at UFC 330, even predicting a specific method of victory for the welterweight title challenger.
Garry is set to face Makhachev this Saturday in Philadelphia, with the Irishman entering the bout as the underdog against the reigning two-division champion and one of MMA’s pound-for-pound elite.
McGregor, who has closely followed Garry’s preparations at SBG Ireland, believes his compatriot has the tools to cause problems for Makhachev. Garry trained at McGregor’s longtime gym for much of his camp ahead of the highly anticipated matchup.
“For the Makhachev/Garry fight… let’s go Garry! You know it. He has the tools, been doing great work at SBG, putting in some solid rounds,” McGregor said.
The former two-division UFC champion also questioned Makhachev’s approach at welterweight, suggesting that the Russian has periods in fights where he becomes less active.
McGregor’s prediction goes beyond simply backing Garry to win. He believes the 28-year-old will eventually find an opening late in the fight and finish Makhachev with a right high kick, landing across the champion’s head.
The matchup represents a huge challenge for Garry, who will be facing one of the most dominant fighters in the sport. Makhachev has already established himself as a lightweight great and recently moved up to welterweight in pursuit of further championship success.
Garry, meanwhile, brings significant height and reach advantages along with an increasingly well-rounded skill set. While many expect Makhachev’s wrestling and grappling to be decisive, McGregor believes Garry’s striking and preparation at SBG could give him the opportunity to produce one of the biggest upsets of his career.
With Ireland’s Garry taking on Makhachev’s Dagestani style, McGregor expects an intriguing clash — and is betting on his fellow Irishman to deliver a spectacular late finish.
