Islam Makhachev respects Ian Machado Garry but all the hugs were too much at UFC 330: ‘This is a fight. This is not a game’

Islam Makhachev defeated Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330, but the dominant welterweight champion was vocal in the post-fight press conference about his opponent's unusual approach to their five-round battle.

Garry spent much of the fight offering handshakes, hugs, and words of encouragement between rounds—gestures that, while well-intentioned, struck Makhachev as out of place in professional combat. "This is a fight. This is not a game," Makhachev said, emphasizing that despite respecting all his opponents, the octagon is where those pleasantries should be suspended. "We're going to war. We're going to break the face, to break the eye." He acknowledged that Garry is a good person and credited him with solid defensive wrestling throughout the bout, but felt the constant displays of sportsmanship undermined the intensity the sport demands.

Makhachev also alleged that Garry resorted to some questionable tactics, particularly a hard headbutt during a scramble in the fourth round that left his nose bloodied. While he brushed off the injury as part of a hard fight, he noted that Garry's defensive wrestling and reluctance to fully engage made it difficult for him to showcase his entire skillset. The champion emphasized that the bout didn't represent his toughest challenge and vowed to continue improving, adding weight and power for future title defenses.

Moving forward, Makhachev said he plans to take time to recover and prepare for his next opponent, but remains committed to competing at the highest level regardless of how each fight unfolds. "From the first minute to the last minute to the last second, I'm going to war," he concluded.