White Slams Garry's Mindset After UFC 330 Loss
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Dana White ripped Ian Garry for being too friendly with Islam Makhachev during their UFC 330 welterweight title fight, arguing the Irish challenger's cordial approach cost him a chance at an upset in Philadelphia.
Garry lost a decision to Makhachev at the Xfinity Mobile Arena on Saturday night despite landing effective body work in the later rounds. White told reporters at the post-fight press conference that Garry's fifth-round demeanor bothered him, per MMA Mania.
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"This is my honest opinion. I felt like tonight was set up for the upset," White said. "Ian is a talented guy, if he had even an ounce of killer instinct — in that fifth round he was beating him to the body. Islam's whole right side was beat up. His face was beat up. You don't come out and hug and shake hands."
White Questions Garry's Fifth-Round Approach
The UFC president said Garry offered high fives, fist bumps, and friendly pats during breaks throughout the bout. White called the Irishman classy but said he needed to flip a switch once the bell rang, especially in the final frame against one of the sport's all-time greats.
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The criticism overlooks the math on the scorecards. Two judges gave Makhachev three of the first four rounds, meaning even a dominant Garry fifth would not have changed the outcome. Garry threw just nine significant strikes from distance in the fifth round and seven in the fourth, according to fight statistics cited by MMA Mania, far below the 25 attempts he logged in the third.
Makhachev's wrestling threat limited Garry's output on the feet across multiple close rounds. Garry landed single rear kicks without follow-ups in stretches where judges needed more volume to score against the champion's grappling control.
White's larger point about mentality resonated with some observers, but the scorecards suggest Garry's path to victory required more aggression earlier in the fight, not just a mindset shift in the final five minutes. Makhachev retained his welterweight title and extended his winning streak across two divisions.
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