Ian Machado Garry's post-fight gesture at UFC 330 has left Dana White and Islam Makhachev baffled.
UFC CEO Dana White expects Garry to reflect on Saturday night's welterweight title fight, where he came up short against Makhachev. White believes Garry dropped the ball in the late rounds, allowing Makhachev to secure a unanimous decision victory and break the record for the longest UFC win streak at 17.
Garry's decision to shake hands and hug Makhachev after the final bell has been questioned by White, who feels it was the wrong mindset for the biggest night of Garry's career. "You don't come out, hug, and shake hands," White said. "That s*** drives me f***ing crazy when there's so much at stake."
Makhachev also found Garry's respect to be odd, saying "I don't understand, man. This is the fight. This is not something we have to hug each other every round, you know? We're going to war. To break the face. The eye." Makhachev believes that Garry's kind and respectful nature may have hindered his performance in the fight.
Despite Garry's impressive takedown defense, White feels that he lacked the killer instinct needed to secure the win. "If he would have come out of that corner like a raging f***ing bull, we might be having a different conversation right now," White said. Garry's decision to play it safe may have cost him the fight, but White still acknowledges his talent and class.
Makhachev's victory has cemented his status as one of the greatest fighters in the world, with White acknowledging that he's "very impressive what he did." However, White is hesitant to fully crown Makhachev as the greatest fighter of all time, citing the need for more performances like this to solidify his claim.
With his record now at 29-1, Makhachev is looking to continue his winning streak and cement his legacy in the sport. He's already planning his next move, with a desire to gain more weight and strength before returning to action. White believes that Makhachev's record may never be beaten, at least while he's alive.
As for Garry, he'll have to reflect on his performance and consider how he can improve for his next fight. Will he learn from his mistakes and come out swinging, or will he stick to his respectful nature and risk losing again? Only time will tell.
Source: Yahoo Sports