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Let me get this straight.
Ian Machado Garry just fought Islam Makhachev, one of the most accomplished fighters on the planet, at UFC 330 — and apparently Ian forgot the fight was actually taking place inside a cage and not at a Long Island backyard barbecue!
Because according to Dana White, Garry was being a little TOO friendly.
High fives.
Fist bumps.
Pats on the back.
Shaking hands.
I’m watching this fight thinking, “Ian, are you trying to win the UFC welterweight championship or are you trying to make a new best friend?”
Dana White basically said, ENOUGH WITH THE FRIENDSHIP!
And honestly?
I get it.
When that fifth-round bell rings, you don’t walk over to Islam Makhachev and say:
“Great fight, buddy! You want to grab some pizza after this?”
NO!
You’re supposed to be thinking:
“I HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO RUIN THIS MAN’S EVENING!”
This isn’t couples therapy!
This isn’t a networking event!
This isn’t LinkedIn!
THIS IS THE UFC!
And Garry actually had some very good moments. He showed excellent takedown defense, made some smart reversals and had success standing with Islam.
But here’s the problem:
HE DIDN’T THROW ENOUGH!
And that’s where I agree with Dana.
You cannot fight one of the greatest fighters in UFC history by throwing a rear kick, backing up, looking at your corner and basically saying:
“Anybody want to see what I got?”
NO!
SHOW THEM!
Garry threw 25 significant strikes from distance in the third round, which he clearly won.
But then look at those other rounds.
Two attempts in the first.
Seven in the fourth.
Nine in the fifth.
NINE!
My Uber driver throws more than nine things when he’s looking for the address!
And that’s the frustrating part.
Garry had moments where he was effective, but he didn’t build on them.
He’d land something good and then…
NOTHING!
It was like watching someone finally get into an argument with their neighbor and then say:
“You know what? I don’t want any problems.”
BRO!
YOU STARTED THE ARGUMENT!
FINISH IT!
Now, Dana White’s criticism about the fifth round is entertaining, but let’s be fair.
Even if Garry went absolutely insane in that fifth round, it probably wasn’t changing the outcome.
Islam had already won enough of the earlier rounds on the scorecards.
So this wasn’t exactly:
“Win the fifth and become champion.”
It was more like:
“Win the fifth and make everybody in the building say, ‘DAMN, THIS GUY IS CRAZY!’”
And THAT’S what Dana wanted to see.
He wanted Garry to smell blood and go after it.
Because Islam’s face was beat up.
His right side was taking punishment.
Garry had opportunities.
And instead of saying:
“I’m taking this man’s belt home tonight.”
There were moments where Garry looked like:
“Excuse me, Mr. Makhachev, would you mind terribly if I attempted another kick?”
Listen, I respect Ian Garry for showing class.
That’s not a bad thing.
Sports NEED class.
But there’s a difference between being classy BEFORE AND AFTER the fight and being too friendly DURING the fight.
You can shake hands after.
You can hug after.
You can tell the guy, “Great fight.”
But while that bell is ringing?
SEND HIM A CHRISTMAS CARD AFTERWARD!
Because once you’re in there, it’s business.
And I think that’s the biggest lesson Ian Garry takes from this fight.
Not that he can’t compete with Islam.
He showed that he can.
Not that he doesn’t belong at the championship level.
He absolutely does.
The lesson is:
YOU HAVE TO LET THE DOG OUT!
You can’t spend five rounds fighting Islam Makhachev like you’re afraid of being rude.
You’re fighting for a UFC championship!
Nobody is giving you extra points for being polite!
There is no “Best Manners” category on the scorecard!
The judges aren’t sitting there saying:
“10-9 Makhachev, but Garry did say please and thank you, so maybe 10-10?”
NO!
You have to create damage.
You have to create volume.
You have to make the judges remember YOUR moments.
And against somebody like Islam, you can’t afford to spend entire stretches waiting.
Because Islam will wrestle you, control you, bank rounds and make you pay for every second you give him.
So Ian Garry didn’t embarrass himself.
Far from it.
But he may look back at this fight and realize:
“I had a chance to make history… and I was too busy being everybody’s favorite gentleman.”
Dana White basically wanted Garry to stop being the nice guy and start being the NICE GUY WHO WANTS TO TAKE YOUR HEAD OFF!
And that’s my biggest takeaway:
Ian Garry doesn’t need to become a dirty fighter.
He doesn’t need to lose his class.
He doesn’t need to disrespect anybody.
But when that cage door closes?
THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS CLOSED!
No more handshakes.
No more high fives.
No more friendship bracelets.
JUST THROW HANDS!
Because you’re not fighting for a participation trophy.
You’re fighting for the UFC championship.
And if you’re going to beat somebody like Islam Makhachev…
YOU BETTER MAKE HIM REGRET SHARING THE CAGE WITH YOU!
That’s my Sports Loud Mouth take.
Twitter: @ErrolMarks34
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My name is Errol Marks and I’d like to tell you why I believe I can be a major asset to your station. I’m from a small town in Long Island, NY and from a very young age I’ve always had a love for sports talk radio. Growing up, I would listen religiously to shows like Mike and the Mad Dog, Mike and Mike, and Imus in the Morning and studied what made those shows so great. I’ve made it my goal to be as influential as the hosts I grew up listening to, and with my knowledge of all major sports, enthusiastic and fearless personality, and my preparation skills, I know I can get to that level. This is an art and a medium that I’m passionate about and one that I feel can never be replaced.
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