Welterweight Islam Makhachev is not impressed with Ian Machado Garry’s recent trip to Georgia in preparation for a rumored title fight.
A few months back, Garry said he’d enlist the country of Georgia to help him defeat Makhachev should he get the call to fight the dominant Dagestani grappler. Georgia has churned out a number of top level wrestlers in recent years like Merab Dvalishvili and Arman Tsarukyan. And as promised, Garry is now is Georgia days after reports started leaking that he and Makhachev could
fight.
For his part, Makhachev isn’t worried.
“In Georgia, he’ll probably improve in some areas,” Makhachev admitted in an interview with Ushatayka. “But I’ve been wrestling my whole life, not just for two to three months. So I don’t care about that anymore. Throughout all my recent fights, someone brings someone into their camps, they bring in some wrestlers or whatever. Oliveira brought in someone from the Iranian national wrestling team.”
“Zero effect. Don’t waste your time.”
Jack Della Maddalena also brought in Craig Jones, who helped Della Maddalena overcome the wrestling of Belal Muhammad to win the welterweight belt. It wasn’t enough to stop Makhachev from pinning him to the canvas during their fight. Islam clearly expects a similar result with Garry despite any Georgian aid.
Makhachev was also asked if he felt his fight with Garry would be a continuation of the much-hyped Ireland vs. Dagestan rivalry that only really existed during the days of Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor.
“Like they say: from AliExpress,” Makhachev joked.
There’s still no timeline set for Makhachev’s return (or official confirmation that Garry will be his opponent), but for what it’s worth the reports we’re hearing don’t involve Islam fighting on the big UFC White House card in June.
