Cormier On Makhachev's Toughest Test At UFC 330

Daniel Cormier believes Islam Makhachev faces one of his toughest tests to date when he defends his welterweight title against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 later this month.

The former two-division champion told his YouTube audience that Garry's size, movement, and striking present genuine problems for Makhachev, who will be the shorter fighter in the cage. "It's a hard fight for Ian Garry. It's a hard fight for Islam Makhachev," Cormier said, as reported by MMA Junkie.

Why Garry Could Give Makhachev Problems

Cormier noted that the opening round will likely determine the fight's trajectory. If Garry can stay upright early and force Makhachev to chase him around the octagon, the Irishman's length and mobility could make for a long night for the champion. "Garry is a very big guy for the weight class, very tall, and very agile, and can move around for 25 minutes if need be," Cormier said, per BJPenn.com.

The UFC commentator suggested Makhachev is attempting to goad Garry into a standup battle that would suit the champion's grappling entries. If Makhachev secures takedowns early or closes distance in the first round, Cormier expects the fight to tilt decisively in his favor.

Makhachev enters as the betting favorite despite Garry's nine-fight win streak and unbeaten UFC record. The main event goes down at UFC 330 on August 23.

Reported via:

• BJPenn — Islam Makhachev is in for a hard fight at UFC 330, says Daniel Cormier