Maia endorses Garry’s tactical edge ahead of UFC 330 title clash

Former UFC welterweight champion Demian Maia has publicly endorsed Ian Garry’s prospects of defeating Islam Makhachev for the UFC welterweight title at UFC 330. The main event is scheduled for 15 August at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, where Garry (17-1) faces the current champion and No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter Makhachev (28-1).

Maia, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend, has been integral to Garry’s training camps since their initial meeting at a seminar in Barcelona in 2023. The partnership intensified recently with Maia travelling to Spain to conduct an intensive camp focused on grappling exchanges against Makhachev. Garry subsequently completed the final phase of his preparation in England alongside jiu-jitsu coach John Hathaway, a former UFC fighter in the same weight class.

In an interview with Sherdog’s Marcelo Alonso, Maia attributed Garry’s potential success to his high fight IQ and adaptability rather than his physical attributes or distance management. Maia pointed to Garry’s performance against Carlos Prates as evidence of his rapid learning capabilities, noting that Garry executed a specific takedown variation taught during fight week approximately ten times during that bout.

Despite his confidence in Garry’s skillset, Maia acknowledged the formidable nature of the Dagestani champion. He described Makhachev as one of the greatest fighters of all time, possessing an elite level of jiu-jitsu that he believes could compete successfully in elite no-gi tournaments. Maia characterised the upcoming contest as a historical title dispute.

Maia confirmed he will be present in Garry’s corner for the bout, alongside coaches Diego Lima, John Hathaway, and Paulo Mauricio Strauch. While Makhachev enters the fight as a -300 favourite, Maia’s detailed involvement in the training process underscores a strategic focus on tactical execution over raw physical dominance.