Overview
- Islam Makhachev is scheduled to defend the UFC welterweight title against Ian Machado Garry on Aug. 15 in Philadelphia and has spent his final camp training in New Jersey with coaches Khabib Nurmagomedov and Javier Mendez.
- Makhachev outlined a clear tactic of chasing Garry, closing distance, and seeking takedowns to neutralize Garry's movement and long-range style.
- Makhachev mocked reports that Charles Oliveira is helping Garry by saying Oliveira will "teach him how to tap fast," referencing his 2022 submission win over Oliveira.
- Multiple outlets corroborate that Garry has worked with Oliveira as a training partner to prepare for Makhachev's ground game, a development both camps have left publicly unchallenged.
- Monday's comments from Makhachev have focused media attention on the fight's key question and raised what to watch for during fight week: whether Garry can avoid takedowns long enough to execute his game plan.