Ian Machado Garry's Coach Defends His Fighter

Ian Machado Garry's coach, Diego Lima, is pushing back on criticism of Garry for being friendly with Islam Makhachev during their UFC 330 title fight.

"I swear I didn't notice it. And I don't think the hugs influenced anything at all. Him greeting his opponent, honestly… Charles [Oliveira] does that too. Charles hugs everyone when the round ends, when the round starts. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it. That didn't change the outcome of the fight. Thank God, Ian is a family man, a respectful guy, extremely polite. If he wants to greet people more, let him greet people more. There's no problem with that," Lima

Garry lost by unanimous decision after being dropped in the second round, drawing criticism from fans and even Dana White for showing warmth toward Makhachev late in the fight. Garry has since called for a title eliminator against Michael Morales, though Carlos Prates is widely expected to get the next shot at Makhachev, who has said he hopes to return before Ramadan in early 2027.