Islam Makhachev mocks Ian Garry's Oliveira training for UFC 330

Islam Makhachev dismissed Ian Garry's decision to train with Charles Oliveira ahead of their UFC 330 welterweight title clash, saying the former lightweight champion will only teach his challenger how to submit faster.

Garry faces Makhachev in the main event next month in Philadelphia and has brought in Oliveira — who holds the UFC record with 17 submission wins — to help prepare for the champion's grappling attack. Makhachev submitted Oliveira at UFC 280 in late 2022 to claim the 155-pound belt.

Makhachev predicts same outcome as Oliveira fight

The reigning welterweight champion told MMA Fighting he knows exactly what Garry will try to do. "I know his game plan. We always see his fights. He has the same style always," Makhachev said. "I will try to catch him, take him down, just what I did with my old opponents. Charles is going to teach him how to tap fast. That's it."

Makhachev surrendered his lightweight title and moved up to welterweight to capture the crown from Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 last fall. He enters UFC 330 on a 16-fight win streak, tied with Anderson Silva for the longest in promotion history, and holds 13 career submission victories.

Garry rebounded from a decision loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov with consecutive wins over Carlos Prates and former champion Belal Muhammad to earn his title shot. The Irish contender is 17-1 overall.

UFC 330 takes place in Philadelphia next month with the welterweight title on the line.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Islam supports Ian Garry training with Charles Oliveira for UFC 330 — ‘Charles will teach him to tap fast’