Dana White On Garry's UFC 330 Approach

UFC president Dana White believes Ian Machado Garry squandered his welterweight title shot against Islam Makhachev by being too friendly in the final round of their August bout.

Garry challenged Makhachev for the strap at UFC 330 in Philadelphia on Aug. 15. The champion won by unanimous decision, dropping Garry in the second round with a head kick and controlling most of the fight with his grappling. Two judges scored the bout 49-46, while a third saw it 48-47.

White Questions Garry's Killer Instinct

According to BJPenn.com, White was critical of how Garry spent the closing moments of the fight. Speaking to reporters at the UFC Sacramento post-fight press conference, the promoter questioned why the challenger would embrace and compliment Makhachev when every second still mattered. White said Garry might never get another opportunity at Makhachev, who could retire as one of the division's all-time greats.

White advised Garry to save the sportsmanship until after the final horn. He told reporters that with five minutes left in a championship fight, fighters should not waste time telling their opponent they love them. The UFC president suggested that kind of approach could cost Garry another title shot.

Garry has maintained that his goal of a decade of dominance remains intact despite the loss. Whether the Irish welterweight can work his way back into title contention remains an open question.

Reported via:

• BJPenn — Ian Machado Garry may never get another UFC title fight, says Dana White: “Don’t waste 10 seconds telling this guy you f*cking love him”